After a back and forth first half, the Lee University lacrosse dominated the third quarter and defeated Shorter University to clinch a spot in the upcoming Gulf South Conference tournament. Hannah Vecsey and Kat Seeeney each had four goals as the Lady Flames won 14-9 over Shorter on Tuesday evening.
The Lady Hawks got on the board first with a very quick goal less than two minutes into the action. However, Hannah Vecsey didn’t let it get to far out as she scored two quick goals herself and after seven minutes the game was tied at 2-2.
Shorter scored the final goal of the first quarter and led 3-2 after 15 minutes.
Less than a minute into the second quarter, Vecsey had a hat trick. Her third goal tied the game up once again. For the next several minutes, Shorter would take the lead and then the Lady Flames would tie the game. Brittney White tied the game at 4-4 and Kat Sweeney tied the game at 5-5. Sweeney finally gave the Lady Flames the lead at 6-5 with five minutes left in the second. Noelle Harrington would add one more goal in the second period and Lee led it 7-5 at the halftime break.
Maggie and Makenna Luzier would each score a goal 40 seconds apart to start the third period and Lee’s lead jumped out to a 9-5 advantage. Makenna Luzier’s goal was a man-down tally for the Lady Flames. After another Shorter goal, Makenna Luzier scored her second of the frame and made it a four-goal advantage. After that, neither team was able to find the back of the net for over seven minutes. Then in the last 23 seconds of the third, Vecsey and Kamille Kremakau each scored to give Lee it’s largest lead of the day at 12-6 going to the fourth quarter.
Shorter scored the first three goals of the last period to cut it back to a 12-9 game. But Sweeney stepped up and scored on a free position shot. Then with 33 seconds left on the clock. Sweeney scored her fourth goal to ice it away.
The Lady Flames outshot Shorter 37-20, but 20 saves from the Lady Hawks goalies kept it close. Vecsey and Sweeney each had four goals to lead the Lady Flames while Caleigh Smith had nine saves between the pipes.
Lee will return home on Saturday, April 20 to take on the top team in the Gulf South Conference. The Lady Flames will play Flagler College at 2 PM at the Ray Conn Sports Complex as the Lady Flames will celebrate senior day.
Coach Megan Smith’s Thoughts:
“Kat Sweeney and Hannah Vecsey had a day today each sharing four goals for us! Our draw team did a good job dominating in that category as well.”
“Caleigh Smith held it down in goal with some great saves and clears. We are back to work for our final regular season game and senior day on Saturday!”