BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C.— With just a few weeks left in the regular season, the Montreat women's lacrosse team played host to the Tennessee Wesleyan University Bulldogs Saturday afternoon in an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) contest. While the hosts held a slim lead early, it was the visitors who ultimately ran away with a 22-7 triumph. Following the defeat, the Cavaliers' record moved to 0-9 overall and 0-3 in league play.
 
Tennessee Wesleyan (3-8, 1-3 AAC) opened the scoring account just 1:49 into the initial quarter. Back-to-back tallies from Grace Wiegand quickly put the Cavs in front, however, and the home side maintained a 2-1 advantage with a little over three minutes remaining in the period. Four quick strikes swung momentum back in favor of the Bulldogs, though, and they wrapped up the frame on top, 5-2.
 
A trio of goals extended the visitors' run to 7-0 and their lead to 8-2. Addie Briscoe halted the stretch with her first collegiate goal midway through the second quarter, but TWU notched the final two tallies of the half. The Bulldogs entered the intermission with a 10-3 lead.
 
Anna White set up Wiegand's hat trick-clinching effort merely 1:06 into the third. Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, that proved to be their lone score of the frame. Tennessee Wesleyan tacked on six goals of its own, expanding its edge to 16-4 before the period's conclusion.
 
TWU ran its consecutive goals streak up to 11, and it suddenly led by 17 (21-4) midway through the fourth. Marley Smith found her way onto the scoresheet, and Wiegand deposited a shot into the back of the net twice more, but the damage was done. One last Bulldog tally capped off a 22-7 win for the visitors.
 
When the final horn sounded, Tennessee Wesleyan owned advantages in shots (48-20), shots on goal (37-16), clears (18-11), ground balls (25-16), draw controls (22-11), free-position goals (4-1) and caused turnovers (10-6). TWU also committed seven fewer turnovers (20-13).
 
Wiegand led the hosts with five goals and five draw controls. Tia Green had a team-high two caused turnovers, while Tayah Quinn picked up a squad-best five ground balls to go along with her 15 saves in net.
 
Montreat hops back on the road on Wednesday for another AAC clash, this time against the Truett McConnell University Bears. Opening draw control is scheduled for 3 p.m. in Cleveland, Ga.