ROCKY MOUNT, N.C.  A close game from opening draw to final whistle, Methodist women's lacrosse held on for a 14-13 victory over host North Carolina Wesleyan College in USA South Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon.

There were six lead changes and neither team led by more than three goals. It was a 6-1 Methodist run that changed the course of this close game. The Monarchs scored the last three goals of the first period to take an 8-7 halftime lead, and three straight scores in the second half gave Methodist an 11-8 lead.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Methodist def. N.C. Wesleyan, 14-13
Records: Methodist 4-5 (2-3 USA South), N.C. Wesleyan 2-9 (0-5)
Location: Scalf Field; Rocky Mount, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• A 3-1 Battling Bishops run cut the deficit to 12-11 with 7:20 remaining in the game. Tia Marlinghaus kept Methodist afloat by scoring the Monarchs' final two goals. Goal No. 13 gave Methodist a 13-11 lead with 5:12 left and goal No. 14 gave Methodist a 14-12 advantage with 2:51 remaining in the game. N.C. Wesleyan made it a one-goal game with 98 seconds remaining but Julee Delellis won the ensuing draw control and Methodist held on for the win.
• After N.C. Wesleyan scored the opening goal of the second half to tie the game, Taylor Mustian returned the lead to Methodist with a free-position goal. Scores from Morgan Eggleston and Delellis came 22 seconds apart as Delellis won the draw control and scored on a free position attempt for an 11-8 score.
• Methodist had an 8-7 lead at intermission, thanks to two scores from Mikayla Ramos and one from Marlinghaus. Ramos (with an assist from Alaijah Ward) started the run and Marlinghaus tied the game after Ramos won the draw control after her score. With 2:23 left in the half, Methodist moved ahead, thanks to Marlinghaus' assist on a Ramos goal. Ainsley McGinn's win on the draw control preceded the score.
• Ali Cucinotta had a string of three straight goals for the Battling Bishops. Her first score gave the Bishops a 3-2 lead and her next two goals gave the Bishops a 5-3 advantage. Goals by Ramos and Mustian tied the game at 5 with 10:25 remaining in the first half and N.C. Wesleyan followed up with two scores of its own.

MORE TO IT

• Ramos finished with a team-high four goals, followed by three goals and an assist by Marlinghaus. Mustian also had three goals.
• McGinn and Ward led the team with four ground balls and Rosa Williams had three. Delellis had a team-high five draw controls. Jem Golombeski had 11 saves.
• Cucinotta finished with a game-high seven goals, plus two assists, followed by Madeline Graham's five goals and two assists.
• Methodist also won the first of the two meetings, winning 18-8 in Monarch Stadium on March 29.

UP NEXT

• It is another road trip for Methodist as the Monarchs travel to Raleigh, N.C., to take on Meredith College Wednesday, April 14 at 6 p.m.
• North Carolina Wesleyan hosts Averett University in the Battling Bishops' season finale on Saturday, April 17 at 2 p.m.