Golden Ties W&M Record with Seven Goals in Win
from press release
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. —Junior Grace Golden
nearly equaled a single-game school record with seven goals as the
19th-ranked William and Mary lacrosse team earned a 17-12 victory
at Drexel on Sunday afternoon.
Golden finished the contest with a career-high eight points (7g,
1a), which ties as the fourth-best single-game total in school
history. Additionally, the Tewaaraton Trophy Watch List selection
registered five ground balls, a draw control and a caused
turnover.
Junior Ashley Holofcener also etched her name in the Tribe (7-5,
1-1) record book, as she became the program’s career record
holder for assists (72). Holofcener tallied four points (1g, 3a)
against the Dragons (9-3, 1-1), while senior Mary Zulty and junior
Molly Wannen both totaled four goals apiece. Zulty’s stat
line also included an assist, two ground balls, two draw controls
and three caused turnovers, while Wannen added three draw
controls.
“I’m very proud of the way our team played today in
what was a very physical game,” Head Coach Christine
Halfpenny said. “The entire team stuck to the game plan,
competed hard for the entire 60 minutes and was unfazed by the
physical play. Our depth was a key factor with five different
players scoring, and it was fun getting back to how we’re
capable of playing.”
As a team, W&M dominated the draw controls, 20-11, and held a
19-14 advantage in ground balls. A number of Tribe players had a
key role in helping the College dominate the draws, as nine players
recorded at least one while five totaled at least three.
“Our team’s ability to win the draw was a significant
factor in the victory,” Halfpenny said. “While a number
of players posted impressive performances, Jenny Michael and Katie
Rees both came off the bench and were huge with three draw controls
apiece – some of which came in key situations.”
Defensively, junior goalkeeper Emily Geary earned a season-best 14
saves, while sophomore Denise Lenihan had three caused
turnovers.
After neither team was able to score during the opening five
minutes, Wannen gave the Tribe and early 1-0 lead when she found
the back of the net on a free position opportunity with 24:13
showing.
Although, Drexel answered with a pair of goals in the next four
minutes, the College countered with a 3-0 run to go ahead, 4-2,
midway through the opening half. Zulty and Golden ignited the run
with goals coming just 34 second apart, while Wannen finished off
the stretch.
A score by Kelli Joran with 14:52 left briefly cut the margin to
one, but the Tribe closed the half with 5-1 run to build a 9-4 lead
at halftime. Wannen provided two goals during the run, as she
already had four at the intermission.
The Tribe continued to extend its lead during the opening minutes
of the second half, as Golden scored three times in the first 3:03
to push the advantage to 12-4.
While Drexel responded with a 4-1 run to get within 13-8 midway
through the half, Golden registered a pair of goals just 24 seconds
apart, coming at 11:47 and 11:43, to extend the lead to seven.
Although the Dragons finished the contest by scoring four of the
final six goals, they were unable to get closer than five the rest
of the way as W&M cruised to the victory.
The Tribe will return to action again next weekend when it hosts
Delaware on Friday at 7 p.m.
