PBA Women: Sailfish Drop Home Game Against Bulldogs
by Brad Seitz, PBA Assistant Director of Athletic Communications
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic women’s lacrosse team returned home for a matchup against a solid Wingate side who is receiving votes in the latest national rankings after a 4-0 start. The Sailfish hung around and even led early in the game but a huge second quarter by the Bulldogs cost PBA as they fell 18-7. PBA falls to 1-2 on the season with the defeat.
The two sides traded goals early as the Sailfish countered the opening goal from the Bulldogs with an Ella Howlin goal at the eleven-minute mark. Addyson Johnson followed up with another ‘Fish goal thirty seconds later to give PBA the 2-1 lead. Wingate would add one goal, but the rest of the opening 15 minutes of play remained scoreless. The Sailfish were outshot 10-6 but goalie Courtney Rausch was great early for PBA as she made six saves in the first quarter.
Sara Metheny opened the scoring for PBA in the second quarter of play to give the Sailfish the lead 3-2. From that point on in the second quarter, it was all Bulldogs as they would go on an 11-1 scoring run throughout the remainder of the second. Johnson scored her second goal of the game for PBA to make it 5-4 at the nine-minute mark but then the Bulldogs would continue their run, scoring the next nine goals. Draw controls were a problem during the scoring run as Wingate won 11-of-14 as it seemed like they were able to keep and capitalize on possession time after time.
The Sailfish were outscored 5-3 in a quick second half with a running clock. Mattie Davis scored in the third while Kaelin DeNeui and Madison Bakatsias scored in the fourth. PBA had five shots in the half to the Bulldogs nine, but PBA had better success at draw controls as they won 6-of-10 in the half. Outside of a rough second quarter, the Sailfish hung around with a talented Wingate side. The Sailfish were outshot 35-16 total in the game as Rausch was able to make ten saves on the game including a handful of impressive ones right on the doorstep.
The Sailfish have a quick turnaround as they travel to North Carolina to face Belmont Abbey on Wednesday. The Crusaders are 2-3 on the season and fell to Wingate 16-7 when the two sides met earlier this year.
