RALEIGH, N.C.  Methodist women's lacrosse held on for a 13-9 victory against host William Peace University in the first round of the USA South Athletic Conference Tournament Tuesday evening.

This first round matchup was a rematch of the thrilling April 3 overtime game at Monarch Stadium. In that game, the Pacers rallied from down 17-11 to win 21-20 in the extra period. Methodist again found themselves with a six-goal (10-4) lead in Tuesday's game, however the Monarchs made sure to keep the game just out of reach for William Peace.

Sarah Ewin led the Monarch attack, finishing with a team-high five goals and two assists. Mary Ellen Kelliher was phenomenal with 11 saves, including eight in the second half. She was especially clutch against free position attempts, earning six saves against 13 total free position shots taken.

THE ESSENTIALS
Event: USA South Athletic Conference tournament, first round
Final score: Methodist def. William Peace, 13-9
Records: Methodist 8-7, William Peace 10-5
Location: Meredith (College) Athletic Field; Raleigh, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Down 4-2 early, the Monarchs embarked on an 8-0 run to take a commanding 10-4 lead early in the second half. Methodist scored two goals in the last minute of the first half to take a 7-4 advantage into halftime and then scored the first three goals in the final period.
• Following Kaelyn Holland's goal to make it 10-4, William Peace went on a 4-1 run, eerily reminiscent of the regular season game, including three consecutive goals and two within 11 seconds to cut the deficit to 11-8.
• More than eight minutes passed without a goal until Sydney Bonner put the Monarchs up four and Ally Nagel delivered the nail with the game's final goal 15 seconds after she won the draw control following the William Peace goal that made it 12-9.
• The Pacers opened the game with two consecutive goals within 34 seconds of each other.

STAT FACTS

• Sarah Ewin scored four of her five goals in the first half, setting the tone early.
• Bonner was second on the team with four goals and Holland had three goals and one assist.
• Monti Hendrix had a team-high six ground balls, four draw controls, along with one assist.
• In addition to her seven points, Ewin had a game-high five caused turnovers.
• Kelliher earned four free position saves in the final period.
• Five of the nine Pacers goals were off of free position shots, including three of their first four goals. Free position attempts were clearly in William Peace's favor as they took 13 shots to the Monarchs' four.
• Methodist was clearly the better team in the first half and they rode that opening 30 minute period to victory. En route to a 7-4 halftime advantage, the Monarchs bested the Pacers in almost every category-- shots taken (21-13), ground balls (19-9), and clearing rate (85 percent to 55 percent).

UP NEXT
Advancing to the semifinals, the Monarchs take on No. 1 seed Meredith College at 11 a.m. Friday in Callaway Stadium at LaGrange, Georgia.