GRANVILLE, Ohio (March 5, 2023) – The No. 24 Denison University women's lacrosse team picked up its first win of the 2023 season on Sunday as the Big Red defeated the University of Lynchburg 21-13 inside Deeds Field-Piper Stadium.
Denison (1-4 overall) fell behind 3-1 to start the game and also trailed by scores of 4-2 and 5-4 in the first quarter before a goal by
Josie Lucchesi, her second goal of the opening period, tied it at 5-5 in the final three seconds of the first quarter.
That was the start of an 8-0 Big Red run that begin with back-to-back goals by Lucchesi and ended with back-to-back goals by
Allaire Kotz with 3:30 left in the first half.
The Big Red then added back-to-back goals by
Emma Repke, both of which were assisted on by
Jane Bailey, in the final two minutes of the first half as Denison outscored Lynchburg (0-4) 9-1 in the second quarter and took a 14-6 lead into the break.
In the third quarter, however, Lynchburg scored the first five goals to get to within three (14-11) of Denison with just under two and a half minutes left in the period.
The Big Red answered with another goal by Lucchesi in the final 45 seconds of the third quarter followed by goals in the first two-plus minutes of the fourth quarter by
Ashley Viglione and
Anna DeVuono to go back up by six at 17-11.
The Hornets scored the next two goals to make it 17-13 with six and a half minutes left before Lucchesi's fifth and final goal with under four minutes remaining started a 4-0 Big Red run to seal the victory.
In addition to Lucchesi's five goals, Denison was led offensively by Viglione (4 goals, 1 assist), Kotz (3 goals, 1 assist) and
Maddie Morrell (2 goals, 2 assists) while
Bridget Sheehy and Bailey both dished out three assists.
Mary Daniel finished with three groundballs and three caused turnovers while
Abby Van Metre led the way with 10 draw controls.
The Big Red will now turn their attention to their Spring Break trip, which begins on Monday, March 13 against St. Mary's College of Maryland hosted by Colorado College.
