Danville, KY - In its final home game of the season and Senior Day, Centre Women's Lacrosse went out on a high note, beating Berry, 10-7. With the win and other results, Centre also secured its spot in the SAA Tournament.
The opening of the game saw early scoring on both sides. Berry started scoring within the first minute when Smith found the back of the net, but it didn't take long for the Colonels to tie it as
Sophia Richardson quickly found the net, to put Centre back in it. Scoring slowed as both teams settled into defense. Centre goalkeeper
Mary Haley made several key saves to keep the deficit at one. Centre responded midway through the period with a goal from
Sophia Richardson to tie the game 1–1. The biggest momentum shift came later in the period when Centre struck twice in quick succession. Senior
Gracie Garner scored off an assist from
Mary Sterling Anderton, and less than a minute later
Audrey Haines added another to give Centre a 3–1 lead. Berry answered with a goal from Lillie Swanson with under four minutes remaining to cut the deficit to 3–2. The final minutes were physical and turnover-heavy, with both teams trading possessions. Vikings was also assessed a green card late in the period, adding pressure defensively.
The second period started slowly, with both teams struggling to maintain possession and clear the ball cleanly. After several turnovers, Centre finally broke through midway through the period when Senior Gracie Garner scored to extend the lead to 4–2. A series of penalties then shifted momentum. Colonels picked up multiple green cards, giving the Vikings a player advantage. Berry was able to capitalize on one of those opportunities when Dani Taraska scored a man-up goal to cut the deficit to 4–3 and briefly swing momentum back in their favor. However, Centre responded almost immediately. Audrey Haines scored just under a minute later to restore a two-goal cushion. Shortly after, Berry was penalized, and Colonels took advantage of the extra player as Senior Gracie Garner scored her second goal of the period on a man-up opportunity, pushing the lead to 6-3. In the final minutes, both goalkeepers made key saves to prevent further scoring. Centre took the 6-3 lead into the half.
Out of the half, Colonels came out in full control as Senior Colleen Stahl capitalized in the opening minute on a free position shot, to make it 7-3, with two seniors working together as Gracie Garner scored minutes later off an assist from Stahl to extend the lead to 8-3. Things got tougher for the Vikings after a green card gave Centre a player advantage, and Audrey Haines converted on the man-up opportunity to push the score to 9–3. Berry made a goalie change following that goal, bringing in Abigail Stewart. Vikings briefly answered with a Morgan Barton free-position goal to make it 9–4, but it was their only score of the period. Centre maintained control and added another late goal from Gracie Garner to extend the lead to 10–4, heading into the fourth.
After a slow start, Berry found momentum midway through the period. Lillie Swanson got things going with a goal to make it 10–5, followed by Smith and Taraska scoring back-to-back to cut the deficit to 10–7. Swanson assisted on both goals.
Despite the surge, Centre's defense and goalkeeper Mary Haley came up with important saves to stop Berry's run. Berry continued to create chances but couldn't convert enough down the stretch.
In the end, Colonels were able to hold on to close out the 10-7 win on, not only their Senior Day, but also their last home game of the season. With the win, the Colonels move to 3-1 in SAA play and currently hold the #3 spot in the standings. They can take the second spot with a win at Rhodes to close out the regular season next Sunday starting at 12:00pm.
