SPORTS
Fast Start Leads Lacrosse to Win on Senior Day
Davidson Lacrosse honored the 5 seniors on the team at their first home game of the season. #24 Charley Orner, #25 Annie Beresheim, #20 Lindsay Rufulo, #18 Sophia Sgroi, and #9 Sarah Kopp were joined by members of their families on Senior Day.
DAVIDSON, N.C. — Four players scored multiple goals and for the second consecutive game Davidson got off to a fast start in leading to a 13-8 Senior Day win over Furman in its home opener Saturday afternoon in women’s lacrosse inside Richardson Stadium.
The Wildcats (2-0) jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the first half and then held off a late scoring rally by the Paladins (0-2) to pick up its third straight home opening win.
Braeden Dial paced the offense with a season-high four goals, followed by Gianna New, Sophia Sgroi and Sarah Kopp with two goals each. Freshmen Emily Weld and Jane Digregorio had two points each on a goal and an assist, while Shayne Antolini dished off three assists.
Davidson held a 28-20 edge on shots and a 17-15 advantage in groundballs, while going 16-17 on clear attempts. The defense forced Furman into 19 turnovers, causing nine of them, a career-high five of which came from Natalie Junior. The sophomore also had four groundballs in the game.
Goalie Delaney Guhman earned six saves in scoring the win, while she tied her career best with five groundballs.
Dial and Kopp scored twice during the ‘Cats 6-1 opening run in the first 10 minutes and Antolini was credited with two assists. She would add another one at the 6:18 mark for a 7-1 lead before the ‘Cats closed the half with goals from Katie Woodruff and New at the 3:22 mark and then with just nine seconds left for a 9-1 halftime lead.
Furman would open the second half scoring the first four goals of the half to cut into the ‘Cats lead at 9-5 with 17:49 on the clock.
Weld and Dial pushed the lead out to 11-5 on back-to-back goals later, but the Paladins came back by running off another streak of goals, this time a 3-0 spurt in just a little over a minute and an half to make it 11-8 with 12:19 left.
The ‘Cats’ defense though shut the Paladins down the rest of the way and closed out the scoring with two more goals in the last 6:31 of the game to hold on for the win.
Furman’s Kyra LaMotte had a hat trick, Hannah Demis had a goal and two assists, and Sophie Brennan recorded two points on a goal and an assist.
Davidson next travels to Boiling Springs, N.C., to take on Gardner-Webb, Feb. 23, at 1 p.m.
Davidson senior Annie Beresheim #25 is from Manhasset, NY.
Davidson senior Sarah Kopp #9 is from Victor, NY.
Davidson senior Charley Orner #24 is from Mountain Lakes, NJ.
Davidson senior Lindsay Rufolo #20 is from Signal Mountain, Tenn.
Davidson senior Sophia Sgroi #18 is from Winchester, Mass.