Sixth-Ranked Eagles Take Down Knights at Home, 19-7

By Brandon Wright, RU Athletics

Photo Courtesy of Greg Spell/G-RoxPhotos.com

WALESKA, Ga. – After a slow start, Reinhardt women's lacrosse came to play Saturday afternoon in its matchup with the visiting St. Andrews (N.C.) Knights as the Eagles dominated late and finished with a 19-7 victory.

The win gives the sixth-ranked team in the country a 4-1 overall record and a 3-0 record in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play.

It is also the Eagles' fourth win in-a-row, and in that four-game win streak, Reinhardt is averaging 21 goals per game while allowing just under six.

"We overcame some mistakes early to recover a big conference win against a very athletic SAU team," head coach Roy Reynolds said. "Again, several freshmen turned in great performances to help us get the win.

"I'd like to thank our men's team for all the support."

The first ten minutes of the game was a high-scoring affair as Reinhardt jumped out to a 5-3 lead with goals courtesy of Caroline Copenhaver (2), Morgan McGhee, Brook Villhauer and Shelby O'Neil.

Pace slowed down in the last twenty minutes of the first half, however, as Reinhardt controlled the flow and took a 12-5 lead into halftime.

The Eagles carried the momentum from the first half into the second as they came out and scored six unanswered goals to take an 18-5 lead with 13:15 remaining in the game.

Reinhardt allowed two more St. Andrews tallies and scored one more itself to bring the final score to 19-7.

Copenhaver led the way on offense for the Eagles with five goals while McGhee pitched in four. O'Neil and Anna-Marie Gazzo netted three apiece.

McGhee led the way in scooping up ground balls with eleven, and she also forced Knight miscues.

Goalie Jessie Landers had a nice day with five saves in the Reinhardt net to give her 23 on the year.

The team will be back in action on March 24 against No. 1 SCAD-Savannah (Ga.) for an AAC battle beginning at 5:30 p.m. on the road. 

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