FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. Methodist's women's lacrosse team held on to defeat Bridgewater College, 12-11 in a non-conference game that doubled as the Monarchs home and season opener on Saturday afternoon.
The victory was also first-year head coach
Rebecca Sheinfeld's first career victory.
After trading goal for goal in a game that featured six lead changes and five ties, the Monarchs finally pulled away by scoring four unanswered goals early in the second half.
While Bridgewater did manage to eventually make it a one-score game, Methodist held off the Eagles over the final 2:12 for the win.
Monti Hendrix was more than just a goal-scorer for the Monarchs as she led the team in points (five; four goals and an assist), in ground balls (nine) and in caused turnovers (four).
THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Methodist def. Bridgewater, 12-11
Records: Methodist 1-0, Bridgewater 0-2
Location: Monarch Stadium; Fayetteville, N.C.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Rather than the Monarchs being outshot 30-21 by the Eagles being the difference in the game, the actual difference was Methodist's 16-9 advantage in draw control wins.
- With the Monarchs down 8-7 early in the second half, the Monarchs dominated in a magnificent one-minute stretch that saw Methodist take a 10-8 lead. That minute of action went like this:
- The latter two goals occurred within 12 seconds of each other. The fourth consecutive Monarch goal came from Hendrix in a man-up situation.
- The Eagles did recover from their stun to score three of the last four goals of the game but the Monarchs' sixth and final goal by Bonner with 11 minutes remaining proved to be the dagger.
- 2:12 left to play and Bridgewater needed another goal to force overtime but the Eagles never even attempted another shot as they committed four fouls in the waning moments.
- The Eagles and Monarchs swapped goals in the first half as neither team could take command of the half with the game being tied at three-all, four-all, and five-all before Bridgewater managed to reel off three unanswered goals. The Eagles tied the game at 5 and scored twice in the final five minutes of the half to take a 7-5 lead.
- Lindsay Brennan's goal with 58 seconds left to cut the deficit to 7-6 before halftime swung the momentum pendulum back in the Monarchs' favor entering the final frame.
- Monti Hendrix scored the first Methodist goal of the season with a free-position shot three minutes into the game. Hendrix would win the ensuing draw control and 14 seconds later, Holland scored on Hendrix's assist to give Methodist an early 2-0 lead.
STAT FACTS
- Hendrix scored a team-high four goals on only five shots. She was a perfect two-for-two in free position shots and also won three draw controls.
- Bonner was "Robin" to Hendrix's "Batman" as Bonner had two goals on only five shots and one assist.
- Sarah Ewin (two assists), Eisenhart (two goals), Holland (two goals), and Brennan (one goal and one assist) each finished the game with two points.
- Eisenhart and Holland won a team-high four draw controls and Ewin won three.
- Ally Nagel showcased her defensive skills with five ground balls picked up and two caused turnovers, both second on the team.
- Mary Ellen Kelliher had eight saves, including five in the second half.
- For the Eagles, Anna O'Hara led with five goals and took a team-high 11 shots and Shannon Rogers had two goals and two assists.
- One area the Monarchs will need to work on is cutting down their turnovers as they outpaced the Eagles 36-27 in that department.
UP NEXT
- The Monarchs have two weeks off before they travel to Norfolk, Va. to take on Virginia Wesleyan on March 2 at 2 p.m.
- Bridgewater returns home to play Frostburg State next Saturday at 5 p.m.
