Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – Junior midfielder Lexie Meanor (Sewickley, PA) recorded her 100th career goal and totaled four goals on the game Thursday evening as the Whittier College Women's Lacrosse team fell 9-8 to Augsburg University.
The Purple & Gold looked like they were in full control in the early stages of the game jumping out to a 2-0 lead within the first minute getting connections from Meanor and Emily Hansen (Seal Beach, Calif.). Augsburg battled back to add two themselves but the Poets would rally to go on a 4-1 run over the next ten minutes to extend their lead to 6-3. During the spurt, Meanor added two and was joined by Hansen and Gabby Boller (Howell, NJ).
But once again the Auggies wouldn't go down without fight as they would put together three straight to deadlock the game at the half.
After a scoreless first six minutes of the second half, Augsburg got on the scoreboard with a free position that gave them their first lead of the game. Hansen would answer with her own free position three minutes later but after that the Auggies would tack on another two from Helena Nguyen that moved the margin to two.
With 4:40 to play, Meanor was able to pull WC within one after a feed from Boller. Whittier played tough defense after that with Madison Topping (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) coming up with a key save on Augsburg's next possession giving the Poets a chance at the equalizer. But on the ensuing possession, Noelle Tamas (Granite Bay, Calif.) saw her free position attempt blocked and the ensuing shots from Carly McAllister (San Jose, Calif.) and Meanor turned away by Auggie goalie Maddie Seykora that allowed Augsburg to come away with the victory.
Topping played all 60:00 minutes collecting eight saves on 17 shots. She also had four caused turnovers and three groundballs. Whittier finished with 23 shots, collected six draw controls and 24 groundballs, was 20-31 on clear attempts and was 2-4 on free positions.
Meanor led the offense with four goals, five groundballs, and two caused turnovers. Hansen registered three goals with seven groundballs, five draw controls, and four caused turnovers and Boller added a goal and an assist.
Whittier (1-5, 0-4 SCIAC) has a short turn around as they return tomorrow, Saturday, March 17 to host The College of Wooster beginning at 11:00am.
