Playing in the teams first ever lacrosse match the Centre women beat Berry College by a score of 16-13 on Saturday, February 26 in Mount Berry, Ga.

Freshman Meg Hawthorne (Cary, N.C.) helped give the Colonels the early 2-0 lead, as she scored both goals on a free position shot.

Berry came back to tie the game with 21:18 remaining in the first half of play.

Hawthorne regained the lead for Centre at the 19:45 mark, while Berry was playing with a player down.

Freshman Sarah Mastey (Chattanooga, Tenn.) then put Centre ahed 4-0 following a goal at the 18:34 mark.

Berry once again fought back and took their first lead of the game at the 16:02 mark when Brittany Coughlan scored on a free position shot to put the score at 5-4.

Berry would take a two goal lead with 10:25 remaining in the first half of action, as Anya Dziurzynski found the back of the cage to put the score at
7-5.

The Colonels were able to keep the game close and they went into the break down by only a goal. Mastey scored the final goal of the first half with 5:45 on the clock to make it a 8-7 game.

During the first half of action Centre had 13 shots on goal, while Berry had 15. Freshman Lauren Esterle (Louisville, Ky.) recorded four saves for Centre. The Colonels had the 7-2 advantage in ground balls, while only turning the ball over five times compared to the Vikings six. The Colonels were perfect on clears going 7-7.

Sophomore Annie Jonakin (Signal Mountain, Tenn.) tied the game at eight all to start the second half.

The Vikings built their lead back up to two following goals by Blair Shupenko and Coughlan that were scored seven seconds apart.

Centre responded by scoring the next six goals over 5:39 of play to build a 14-10 lead. Hawthorne, Mastey, and freshman Frances Fisher (Ijamsville, Md.) each scored two goals.

Berry was unable to respond, as the two teams exchanged goals during the remainder of the game on the Colonels way to a 16-13 win.

The Vikings had the 34-28 advantage in shots during the game. Centre finished the game with 11 ground balls compared to the Vikings 10 and the Colonels commited fewer turnovers, 13-15. The Colonels were perfect in clears, going 14-14, while Berry went 13-16.

Esterle recorded her first collegiate win with 16 saves on the afternoon.

Hawthorne led the way in scoring for the Colonels with seven goals on seven shots. She also recorded three ground balls on the afternoon. Mastey recorded five goals on 11 shot attempt.

Freshman Katy Cremer (Hudson, Ohio) and Claiborne Willis (Nashville, Tenn.) each had two caused turnovers in the win.

Next up for the Colonels will be a game against Agnus-Scott on Sunday, February 27 in Decatur, Ga. at 1:00 p.m.