Women's Lacrosse Defeats Truett McConnell for Third Straight Win

CLEVELAND, Ga.- The women's lacrosse team played their final Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) game of the season on Wednesday. TWU scored over 20 goals in their third straight game, beating the Truett McConnell University Lady Bears 23-5 to win their third consecutive game.

Olivia Downey started off the scoring for TWU. A goal by Truett McConnell was responded to by Kate Buchanan. Buchanan scored two back-to-back goals man down, giving the team a 3-1 lead at the end of the first quarter. 

Six goals were scored in the second quarter, the final five going toward the score of the Lady Bulldogs. Downey scored on a free position shot to move the team's lead to 4-2. Jozlyn Long scored on a man-up opportunity, turning Kylie Heinrich's pass into a goal. Downey scored 36 seconds later and Heinrich scored the final two goals of the half, giving Tennessee Wesleyan an 8-2 lead at the break.

The Lady Bulldogs outscored the Lady Bears to the tune of 9-2 in the third quarter. Downey had a goal sandwiched between two Truett McConnell goals. The team then went on the longest scoring streak of the game, eight straight goals in the third and one more in the fourth to total nine. Stephanie Rocha scored the first two goals of the streak while Buchanan followed with a goal. Kyla Shane scored the fourth goal of the streak while Olivia Galberaith scored goal number five. Heinrich, Rocha, and Buchanan ended the quarter with goals, moving the team's lead to 16-4 to start the fourth quarter.

For the third time in the game, Downey opened a quarter with a goal. After Truett McConnell scored their final goal of the game, TWU scored five more goals to build on to their lead. Galberaith scored her second goal of the game to go with back-to-back goals by Long. Buchanan and Downey ended the scoring, giving the team their third consecutive win by 14 or more goals.

Downey led the offense with six goals, Buchanan added five goals, and Heinrich, Rocha, and Long all had hat tricks. Rylee Brendlinger had 10 saves in the net. 

Heinrich recorded her 100th career point in the game.

The win moves the Lady Bulldogs record to 5-8 overall, the most wins in a season since 2019, and 2-3 in the AAC. Tennessee Wesleyan closes out the regular season with a non-conference game against Georgetown College on Friday. The game is set to start at 6:00 p.m.