DANVILLE, Ky. – Centre women's lacrosse battled NAIA-member Georgetown (Ky.) in frigid elements Wednesday evening, coming away with a 9-3 victory to notch their first triumph of 2020.
 
With a wintry mix whipping across South Turf Field, the Colonels (1-3) suffered fewer miscues than the Tigers (2-2) while capitalizing on limited scoring opportunities.
 
Clare Heaney forced eight of Georgetown's 35 turnovers – one shy of the program record – and Mary Katherine Hardy turned in an all-around performance at midfield with seven ground balls, three caused turnovers, two draw controls and two points.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
- Conditions made ball control challenging for both teams, resulting in more than 30 turnovers combined in the first half alone.
- Centre was able to get on the board first eight minutes in when Hardy hit the back of the net, and Abby Whitford doubled the lead soon after.
- Georgetown managed only five shots throughout the first half, but Olivia Archer connected on two in succession later in the half to level the score at 2-2.
- McKenna Hulette scored an unassisted goal a minute after Archer's game-tying score to regain the lead for the Colonels.
- Bella Tacogue converted an assist from Sloan Reding to give Centre a 4-2 halftime lead.
- Already struggling with the sloppy conditions, Centre's defensive efforts made life difficult on the Tigers. Georgetown managed only two shots in the final 30 minutes, and successfully cleared only half of its attempts (8 of 16).
- Centre, meanwhile, managed five unanswered goals in the second half to put the game out of reach.
- Hannah Rodell, Sloan Reding and Marina Burke got in on the scoring as Centre iced the victory.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Centre gained 8 of 14 draw controls, led by Katy Haering's six.
- Whitford led the Colonels with three points, finishing with a goal and two assists.
- Rookie Skylan Thompson followed Hardy with five ground balls, while Heaney gained four.
- Centre out-shot Georgetown 20-7.
 
UP NEXT
The Colonels open Southern Athletic Association play Saturday, hosting Berry at 11 a.m. at South Turf Field.