FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Methodist women's lacrosse had a spectacular close to its 2021 campaign with a 13-7 victory over visiting Pfeiffer University in non-conference action Tuesday evening for Senior Night.

After finding themselves trailing 3-2 in the first half, the Monarchs scored four consecutive goals for a 6-3 halftime lead. Another streak of four unanswered goals late in the second half saw Methodist put the game away, ballooning a 9-6 advantage to 13-6.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Methodist def. Pfeiffer, 13-7
Records: Methodist 5-6; Pfeiffer 4-4
Location: Monarch Stadium; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After scoring a man-down goal to tie the game at 2, the Falcons took the lead on a score with 6:06 remaining in the first half. In a span of 78 seconds, Methodist scored three goals. Taylor Mustian scored a man-up goal with 3:35 remaining and 38 seconds later, Payton Jones scored for the 4-3 lead. Mikayla Ramos won the ensuing draw control and scored 40 seconds later with an assist from Kayla Nee. With 33 seconds left before halftime, Ramos struck again with another goal, with an assist from Alaijah Ward, for a 6-3 edge.
• After Pfeiffer scored the opening goal of the second period, Jones scored with an assist from Ward. Ward scored a goal of her own to give Methodist an 8-4 advantage. Both those goals were a direct result of great defense as Kendall Cahill earned the caused turnover and recovered the ground ball before Jones' score and Jones had a caused turnover and a ground ball on the way to Ward's score.
• Methodist scored three man-up goals in the second half with Julee Delellis, Rosa Williams, and Ramos all taking advantage of the favorable situation. Ramos' and Williams' goals were the bookends of the 4-0 run that saw the Monarchs take the 13-6 lead. Sandwiched in-between those goals were scores from Nee and Jones. The goals by Williams cemented the run—and the game—with eight minutes of game time left.
• It took a while for the goals to come as only two goals were scored in the first 15 minutes, by Ward and Tia Marlinghaus, who scored a man-down goal.

MORE TO IT

• The Monarchs' lone senior -- Danielle Jones -- was recognized before the game for Senior Night.
• Ramos and Jones led the team with three goals each and Ward's four points (two goals and two assists) gave her the game-high with four points. Nee had two assists and a goal.
• Jones also had four draw controls, four ground balls, and two caused turnovers. Jalessa Batchelor's five ground balls were the team-high and four caused turnovers from Cahill were the team-high.
• Ashley Fuentes had six saves, all in the second half.
• Methodist bested Pfeiffer in draw controls, 14-6, ground balls (28-23), and shots taken (26-18).