MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Centre women's lacrosse punched their ticket to the Southern Athletic Association Championship in emphatic fashion Friday, routing Oglethorpe, 23-5, at Mason Field on the campus of Rhodes College.
 
The Colonels (9-3) and Stormy Petrels (4-4) went toe-to-toe for the opening stages of the game, but a seven-goal stretch to end the first half turned control over to Centre.
 
Bella Tacogue and Sloan Reding scored five goals apiece, helping the Colonels advance to the SAA title match for the sixth time since 2013.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
- Centre got early goals from Lily Gahm and Tacogue, but Oglethorpe struck back with two of its own to pull the score level at 2-2 by the midway point of the first half.
- Minutes later, Tacogue found the back of the net off an assist from Mary Katherine Hardy to regain the lead for the Colonels.
- That proved to be the start of an overwhelming run from Centre, which saw the Gold and White out-score the Stormy Petrels 10-1 before intermission. On three occasions during the run the Colonels scored two goals within 30 seconds, one of which was a highlight-worthy backhanded goal from Tacogue that made it 10-3.
- After scoring seven unanswered to end the half, the Colonels were able to play the final 30 minutes without a threat. Still, Centre out-scored Oglethorpe by a 10-2 margin to secure the lopsided win.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Centre set a handful of program records in the rout, including total team goals (23), points (30) and shots (51) in a conference tournament game. Clare Heaney set the team record for draw controls in a conference tournament match with 10.
- The Colonels improve to 11-0 all-time against Oglethorpe, including 3-0 in postseason play.
- Tacogue finished with five goals and an assist, adding four ground balls and two caused turnovers. Her 44 goals this season leads the team.
- Reding's five goals matched a career-high, as the junior excelled in free position opportunities with a 4-for-5 conversion rate. She also had two assists for a team-high seven points.
- Gahm recorded a hat trick and added three assists, as well.
- Hardy had a traditional all-around effort for Centre, totaling four goals, one assist, six draw controls and a pair of ground balls.
- McKenna Hulette, Ella Treinen and Hannah Rodell had two goals each.
- Bri Hendricks led Centre with three caused turnovers. In goal, Lola Duff and Gracey Falk split time with the former recording two saves in the win.
 
UP NEXT
Centre faces top-seeded Rhodes Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. The Colonels and Lynx have met three times in the SAA Championship game, with Rhodes claiming all matches.