No. 25 Mount Olive cruises past No. 22 Roberts Wesleyan

MOUNT OLIVE – In another top-25 nationally ranked contest, the No. 25 University of Mount Olive women’s lacrosse team secured a 19-11 win over No. 22 Roberts Wesleyan in non-conference play at the Ray McDonald Sr. Sports Complex on Feb. 20.

With the win, the Trojans improved to 1-2 overall and have now played three nationally-ranked opponents to start the season. Meanwhile, Roberts Wesleyan fell to 1-1 overall.

The Redhawks were first to get a goal at the 13:26-mark of the game. Soon after, pair of goals by senior Meagan Maxwell and graduate student Ali Davis put the Trojans up by one, 2-1. Closing the first quarter, RWU scored a goal to tie the match.

In the second quarter, the Trojans took the lead as three goals were scored by graduate student Zoe Dougherty, a second goal by Davis, and junior Logan Hibbard to give Mount Olive a 5-2 lead. Nearing the end of the second quarter, the Redhawks were able to put three goals past the keeper. To finish the first half strong, the Trojans got goals from Hibbard, graduate student Morgan Paige, Davis and two goals from Maxwell, extending the lead to 10-5.

RWU was first to get a goal in the third quarter and trailed 10-6. With back-to-back goals by Paige and Davis, the Trojans were up 12-6. At the 11:20 mark, the Redhawks gained another goal to trail 12-7. With 12 seconds left, freshman Hannah Legge scored her first goal of the year, off a pass by Hibbard to lead 13-7.

In the fourth quarter, Dougherty scored the first goal off a crisp pass from sophomore Teagan Dunnett to extend the UMO lead to 14-7. Soon after, Dunnett scored her first goal of the game. Roberts Wesleyan was able to score four goals to try and trim the deficit. Mount Olive got two goals from senior Peyton Youngblood, one from Davis, and one from Legge. The Trojans sealed the 19-11 victory to earn their first win of the season.

Senior goalkeeper Claire Hagen earned the win with 13 saves while facing 24 shots on goal.

Davis tallied five goals, three draw controls, two ground balls and caused one turnover. Maxwell registered three goals.

— From University of Mount Olive Athletics