WLAX Group
Kayley Dahring
5
Aquinas (MI) AQUINAS 2-6, 0-3
7
Winner Madonna MADONNA 3-4, 1-1
Aquinas (MI) AQUINAS
2-6, 0-3
5
Final
7
Madonna MADONNA
3-4, 1-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Aquinas (MI) AQUINAS 1 0 1 3 5
Madonna MADONNA 0 2 3 2 7

Game Recap: Women's Lacrosse |

Defense Lifts Madonna Past Aquinas

LIVONIA, Mich. — Danielle Turner recorded a hat trick and Madonna University built a five-goal cushion before holding off a furious late rally to defeat Aquinas (Mich.) 7–5 on Saturday morning in Livonia. The Crusaders turned a 1–0 deficit into a 7–3 lead late in the fourth quarter, then survived three goals from the Saints in the final minute to secure the home victory.
Aquinas struck first, as Maizie Holmes opened the scoring at 11:49 of the first quarter off a feed from Sophia Davis. Madonna answered in the second quarter, when Turner converted on an assist from LeeAnn Johnson to tie the game. The Crusaders took the lead for good with 3:38 left in the half as Adrianna Kennedy scored off a setup from Erika Hernandez, sending Madonna into the break up 2–1.
Madonna seized control in the third quarter, outscoring Aquinas 3–1 in the frame. Kennedy made it 3–1 just 29 seconds into the half, finishing a pass from Emma Volpe. After Davis briefly cut the margin to 4–2 for Aquinas at 5:43, Turner answered again, pushing the Crusaders' advantage to 5–2 off an assist from Madi Conrad. By the end of three quarters, Madonna had turned early pressure into a multi-goal edge that set the stage for a tense finish.
Johnson extended the lead to 6–2 only 16 seconds into the fourth quarter, scoring on a feed from Kennedy. Aquinas began its late surge when Addison Munn scored, assisted by Davis, but Madonna quickly responded. Turner completed her three-goal outing with 34 seconds remaining, taking a pass from Ri O'Connor to restore a four-goal cushion at 7–3. The Saints continued to press, with Munn scoring again at 0:14 and Vanessa Bailey adding the final goal with one second left, but the Crusaders' earlier scoring run proved decisive.
Turner led Madonna with three goals, eight shots and three draw controls, while Kennedy added two goals and an assist. Johnson and Volpe each tallied a goal, with Johnson and O'Connor chipping in assists as the Crusaders finished with six assists on seven goals. Madonna generated 20 shots, 15 on goal, and matched Aquinas with six draw controls despite committing 25 turnovers.
In goal, Olivia Vitantonio backstopped the win with 12 saves while facing 26 shots over the full 60 minutes. Her performance helped the Crusaders withstand Aquinas' 26–20 edge in shots and late offensive pressure. The Saints were led by Davis, who posted one goal and three assists and was involved in four of Aquinas' five tallies, and by Munn's two-goal fourth quarter. Goalkeeper Emersyn Gaitan finished with eight saves for Aquinas.
With the victory, Madonna converted efficient offense and strong goalkeeping into a key home result, demonstrating the ability to build and protect a lead even under heavy late-game pressure.
 
Print Friendly Version