The Lee University lacrosse team used an efficient first half en route to a, 17-10, win over Belmont Abbey on Saturday afternoon from Alumni Field.
Maggie Luzier got the scoring started just 40 seconds into the contest and Brittney White threw in the next two goals to jump out to an early, 3-0, lead.
Katelyn Miller put the hosts on the board with 5:53 to go in the first but it was all Lady Flames from there. Lee (5-1) went on a, 7-2, run to end the half capped by a Hannah Vecsey buzzer beater to take a, 15-3, advantage into the break.
Makenna Luzier put in the first goal of the second half but the Crusaders scored the next six to trim the lead to seven.
Noelle Harrington found the back of the net to make it, 17-9, with 4:53 to go.
Triniti Cassidy scored a man-up goal for Belmont Abbey (3-2) with just over two minutes remaining, and the Lady Flames came away with their fourth straight win.
Callie Curtis led all players with five goals while Maggie Luzier, Harrington, and White all had three goals each. Vecsey pitched three assists and White led everybody with 10 draw controls.
Kaleigh Bernard got the start in goal, stopping two shots, and coming away with a team-leading three ground balls. Caleigh Smith went just under 24 minutes in goal making four saves on 10 shots, and Sydney Mayo made a save in her six minutes of work.
Cassidy and Miller each had three goals to pace the Crusaders while Cassidy threw three assists.
Summer Eddinger got the start and lasted all 60 minutes in the cage for the hosts making nine saves while facing 26 shots, and gathered a pair of ground balls.
Lee will be back in action on Thursday as they host Lynn University at the Ray Conn Sports Complex beginning at 5 p.m.
Head Coach Megan Smith's Thoughts:
"First we want to thank Belmont Abbey for allowing us to be a part of a special day honoring Gwen Boston as she fights a courageous battle with cancer. Days like today always are good reminders that the lacrosse community is so big and it is all way bigger than a game."
"We came out hot and I was super proud of the team for what they showed in the first half. It was a total team effort all over the field which is what we have been working on. We had 7 different goal scorers with Callie Curtis leading the team putting 5 in the back of the net. Brittney lead the team in draw controls coming up with her 500th career one as well."
"Credit to Belmont for a strong second half holding us to only 2 goals. We have some work to do to correct those second-half mistakes as we are back at home on Thursday!"