Catawba takes women’s lacrosse win over Wingate, 11-9

Published 8:22 pm Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Staff report

SALISBURY — Catawba held off a late Wingate rally to grab an 11-9 win in South Atlantic Conference women’s lacrosse action on Wednesday afternoon at Shuford Stadium.

The Catawba Indians improve to 4-5 overall and 3-0 in the SAC. The Bulldogs fall to 3-5 and 1-1 in league play.

In a game which both halves mirrored one another, Catawba build a comfortable lead over the first 15 minutes, only to see Wingate charge back in the last 15. Catawba goalie Aryn Dorr saved a Wingate shot with a minute to play, as the Bulldogs attempted to pull within one. Catawba then ran out the clock.

Gianna Pezzulo led Catawba’s offense with three goals and three assists. Katie Barth, Erin Green and Brooklyn Tilley all had two goals for the Indians.

Dorr, a freshman from Chespeake Beach, Md., posted 17 saves in goal and caused four turnovers. Catawba defender Imani Grays and midfielder Nicole Hunt also caused four turnovers each.

Kendall Wells put Wingate up, 1-0, with the game’s opening goal, just two minutes into the contest. Pezzulo book-ended a 4-0 Catawba run that saw the Indians go on top, 4-1, at the 13:25 mark.

Wingate rallied back late in the half, with four of the last five goals of the period, two by Emily Ketron, sending the teams to the break tied at 5-5.

Coach Jordan Bowers’ Catawba team would start strong in the second half, scoring the first six goals. Barth scored back-to-back goals, putting the Indians ahead, 7-5, after 10 minutes. Green would add two goals, making the Catawba advantage 11-5 with her tally at the 16:15 mark.

The Bulldogs scored twice over the next eight minutes, closing the deficit to 11-7, then made another push in the final two minutes. A goal by Becca Ruiz made it 11-8 with 1:32 to go and after a draw control win, Paige Kamer scored with 1:18 left.

The Bulldogs won another draw control, but Dorr’s save got possession for Catawba.

Ruiz led Wingate with three goals. Kamer had two goals and an assist. Goalie Arion Pierre posted three saves.

Catawba returns to action on Saturday at 11 a.m., hosting Lincoln Memorial in another key SAC game.