SEWANEE, Tenn. – Centre women's lacrosse escaped Oglethorpe in the Southern Athletic Association Tournament Friday evening, winning by an 11-8 margin at Puett Field.
 
The three-seed Colonels (13-3) won 19-4 during the teams' regular season meeting, but was unable to create that kind of separation against the upset-minded Stormy Petrels (5-9).
 
Mary Katherine Hardy stuffed the box scored seven points on a career-high five goals and two assists, adding five ground balls and three draw controls.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
- A close contest seemed evident from the start, as MK Hardy's opening goal was answered by the Petrels less than a minute later.
- Both teams hit a scoring slump across the middle stages of the first period, though Hardy's three goals helped the Colonels carry a 5-3 lead into the halftime break.
- Centre out-shot Oglethorpe 17-9 in the first 30 minutes, but otherwise the teams were relatively even statistically.
- Amelia Tomasulo opened scoring in the second on a man-up goal, but Oglethorpe reeled off three in a row to tie the score, 6-6.
- Tomasulo sliced through the Petrels' defense and hit the back of the net, and Abby Whitford quickly added a tally to give Centre an 8-6 advantage with 18 minutes left.
- MK Hardy continued the run with her fourth score, forcing an Oglethorpe timeout.
- The Petrels wouldn't go quietly, but late scores from Hannah Hardy and MK Hardy helped secure the win.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Colonels would out-shoot the Tigers 36-18 and take 12 of 21 draw controls.
- Tomasulo finished with a hat trick, while Whitford, H. Hardy and Bella Tacogue added one apiece.
- MK Hardy put 10 of her 12 shots on goal, scoring five goals for the fourth time this season and first since Feb. 23.
 
UP NEXT
The Colonels meet Sewanee in the SAA Tournament semifinals for the second year in a row Saturday, with first draw scheduled for 4 p.m. ET. Centre, which won last year's tournament meeting 13-8, will be looking to avenge an 18-9 loss to the Tigers just a week ago.