Flashback Friday: Eagles Make History, Head to National Invitational

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media

WALESKA, Ga. – Today's Flashback Friday highlights how the Eagles found themselves heading to Michigan to play in the 2019 NAIA Women's Lacrosse National Invitational for the first time as a program.

Reinhardt women's lacrosse made history on its home field on April 20, 2019 with an 18-9 come-from-behind triumph over the Bulldogs of Tennessee Wesleyan in the finals of the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Championship.

With the victory, head coach Roy Reynolds and his team claimed the AAC Championship crown for the first time and will make their inaugural appearance in the National Invitational on May 8-11 in Grand Rapids, Mich.

"We were tested by a great TWU team early and made some needed adjustments," Reynolds said. "After the half, we played disciplined lacrosse on both ends – enabling us to win. This team started last fall putting in the work to win titles and it has paid off. Their unselfish dedication to each other and teamwork has paid off with a chance to play for a national championship.

I'm thrilled to take this team to compete at the national level and represent RU."

Outstanding defense in-net from the Bulldogs kept the Eagles off the scoreboard for nearly nine minutes after a 2-0 lead for Tennessee Wesleyan in the opening portion of the game. The Bulldogs would jump ahead, 3-1, before Reinhardt netted three-consecutive goals to take its first advantage at 4:34 left in the opening half following back-to-back goals by Caroline Copenhaver.

Tennessee Wesleyan wouldn't go away, however, as they scored two of the next three – including a goal with six seconds left on the clock – to head to the locker rooms tied at 5-5.

The Eagles would come out motivated with three goals in the first seven-plus minutes, and netted eight of the next nine scores between the two teams to find themselves now up, 13-6, midway through the final period.

The Bulldogs would try to fight back with two netted shots, but the AAC's top team immediately responded with four more goals in less than four minutes.

Copenhaver put an exclamation point on the victory with another goal in the final minute. Forty-two seconds later, the team stormed the field as AAC champions in the postseason as well.

Reinhardt (16-1) outscored Tennessee Wesleyan, 13-4, over the final 30 minutes en route to the victory.

Morgan McGhee, who was back in the lineup on Saturday, led the way in the scoring column with five goals, while Alyssa Klinger, Katie Yarish and Copenhaver all found the back of the net four times.

Audrey Frost also added a score.

Yarish – who was named the AAC Championship MVP – was out front in points with 12 after eight assists (and seven ground balls).

The Eagles forced 16 of the Bulldogs' 26 total turnovers. McGhee caused five turnovers and also scooped up five ground balls in the triumph.

Jessica Landers notched an in-goal victory after saving four shots after getting the second-half start. 

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For more information on Reinhardt Women's Lacrosse, please click here.