The Marietta College women’s lacrosse team posted a close 11-9 win over Chatham University Saturday (March 18) afternoon. The Pioneers improve to 4-3 on the season, while Chatham falls from the ranks of the undefeated to 3-1 overall.
“Today was a tremendous defensive win,” Marietta head coach Malory Nadrah said. “Our defenders executed what we worked on in practice right. Quality non-conference win for our program today.”
The Cougars got the festivities going in the first period as Phallon Kilduff scored a free position shot a little over a minute into the game. Marietta returned the favor three minutes later when Hope Adams (Delaware, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) would score also off a free positions shot. The Pioneers took the lead when Adams and Mallory Wiles (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) scored, giving Marietta a 3-1 lead at the 8:33 mark. Chatham’s Selena Justus scored to cut the lead to one, but Adams broke free and scored again to give the Pioneers a 4-2 lead going into the second period.
Adams continued her big day into the second period as she would find the back of the net just two minutes in. Chatham fought back as Stephanie Walter and Sam Beall-Dennell both would put a score in and the Cougars would trail by only one at the 6:33 mark. Wiles would answer a minute later and Adams would score again with two minutes left to make the score 7-4 with Marietta in the lead going into intermission.
In the third period, Megan McGriff (Lakewood, Colo./Bear Creek) would score quickly to keep the run alive for the Pioneers. The momentum was broken as Justus would score for the Chatham at the 11:19 mark and Felicia Hutter would score a free position shot to make the score 8-6 with five minutes left in the period. The two teams would trade goals for the next couple of minutes but Kilduff would score again with 30 seconds left in the period. Marietta would take a slim 9-8 lead in the final quarter.
After the Cougars were given a yellow card in the opening minute of the fourth, Marietta used the advantage and Natalie Cocco (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) scored to put the Pioneers up by two goals. The Pioneer defense held tough, led by a great performance in goal by Abby May (Randolph, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary), and kept the Cougars off the board for the next several minutes. Adams scored again at the 8:20 mark to extend the lead to 11-8. With under a minute, Bailey Donofrio scored a goal to cut the lead to two but Marietta iced the remaining seconds and the Pioneers would go on to the 11-9 victory.
Abby May (Randolph, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary) got the start for the Pioneers and got the win. She faced 31 shots, 27 which were on goal, and made 18 saves.
“Abby played a fantastic game,” Nadrah said. All of our defenders stepped up and made huge contributions. Hope played phenomenal on the attacking end for us and stepped up big.”
Adams totaled seven goals on the afternoon. She also had three draw controls and caused a turnover. Wiles scored twice for the Pioneers. Alayna Francis (Irwin, Pa./Norwin) also had three draw controls and caused two turnovers. Kyla Andreas (Shirley, N.Y./Longwood) led with five groundballs. Jordan Jeffries (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic) also caused two turnovers.
Marietta will travel to battle Thiel College this Wednesday (March 22) with a scheduled 6 p.m. start.
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