GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Marian women's lacrosse team never game up, but were unable to withstand a pesky Aquinas team Thursday night. Marian's season comes to a close in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) Tournament Semifinals against the Saints 16-10, closing the year 13-4.
The two teams battled it out in the opening minutes, going back and forth as neither team could find the back of the cage. After a ground ball pickup from Ella Grace Giedd, the Knights had their first good look as Madeline Dumke's shot hit the crossbar to keep it scoreless. The Saints were the first to strike with a free position goal at the 8:54 mark, before taking the 2-0 lead after scoring again 54 seconds later.
Aquinas blitzed Marian in the remainder of the first quarter, rattling off three more goals in the final six and half minutes. The host's defense was on full display in the opening quarter, holding the Knights to only two shots.
Giedd ended the silene for Marian after executing on the free position shot, but it was the Saints responding right back with the free position goal of their own. At the 11:18 mark, Emily Blackburn netted her first score on the free position, but once again the Saints would answer the goal with three of their own in the next few minutes to take the 9-2 lead. Marian had the last say as they scored two goals in the final five minutes behind Ashlynn Gray and Ruby Mason.
Marian scored in the opening 11 seconds behind a Grace Martin score to get within three to start the third quarter. Aquinas answered with four goals in the quarter while putting on a defensive display, holding the Knights to only one goal.
Trailing 13-5 going into the fourth quarter, Marian found some offensive groove again as Madison Ash scored with 11:42 left to play. The Saints had an answer, but the Knights pounced on an opportunity with Martin connecting with Mason to find the back of the cage. Giedd, Mason, and Ashlynn Gray would score the next three goals of the game as the visitors found themselves trailing by only four.
The Saints offense hushed Marian with a quick score 24 seconds later to go back up 15-10. With 5:34 to go, the Knights tried to keep digging at the Aquinas lead, but another goal from the hosts with 1:47 left ended the comeback for Marian, as they would fall 16-10.
Six players scored for Marian, with Mason leading the team with the hat trick in the game. Ashlynn Gray and Giedd each added two goals, while Blackburn, Ash, and Martin scored one. Dumke led Marian with five groundballs and five caused turnovers, and Mason added four groundballs.
Marian's season comes to an end after the WHAC Tournament Semifinal loss, finishing 13-5 overall and 7-2 in conference play.
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