LIVONIA, Mich. – Nearly a month after falling to second-ranked Davenport University 30-0, the Madonna University women's lacrosse team showed its continued improvement in its inaugural season finale under Head Coach Dan Teskey, as they scored a pair of goals and the defense limited the Panthers to 20.
Playing the final game of the season at University Field on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon, the Crusaders (0-16, 0-14 wHAC) showed tremendous promise as senior leader Emily Johnson (SR/Grandville, Mich.) won the opening draw and drew a free position shot which she converted for an early 1-0 lead.
The second Crusader tally came with 11:45 to play as Sarah Carlson (SR/Woodhaven, Mich.) also converted a free position shot to help MU finish 2-for-5 on such opportunities. The Panthers (14-2, 13-1 WHAC) scored 13 goals in the first half and added seven in the second for the final margin.
Another sign of improvement for the Blue and Gold came in the draw control totals as they won 10 of the 22 draws in the contest after winning just six of 31 in the first meeting. Madonna corralled 18 groundballs in the game, attempted six shots, all on goal, and was 4-of-9 on clears.
Johnson added three draw controls and two groundballs to her team-best 24th goal on the season while Carlson won a team-high four draw controls and scored on her lone shot. Katie Larabell (SO/Novi, Mich.) collected a team-high six groundballs and had the team's lone caused turnover.
In goal, Stephanie Mackley (SR/Livonia, Mich.) made 10 saves, which included four free position stops while she also had two groundballs.
Teskey is looking forward to what next year will hold with a large recruiting class coming in. Many of those recruits and future recruits will be on display at the team's second annual Summer Prospect Day June 11. More information on the event can be found here.
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