Marian University Ind.

INDIANAPOLIS - Behind a five-goal second quarter and a relentless defense that forced 22 turnovers, the Marian women's lacrosse team captured its first-ever Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Tournament Championship, sweeping the league titles after defeating No. 10 Lawrence Tech 11-7 in Saturday's championship game. Marian's win stamps an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament, as they head deeper into the postseason with a 13-3 overall record.

The Knights got the night started on the right note, as Rylie Boezeman scored an unassisted goal 91 seconds into play to take a quick 1-0 lead. Strong defense kept the Blue Devils off the board, but six minutes into the night, Lawrence Tech's Mari Pellmann leveled the game. Marian stayed strong and kept composed, getting an answer from Ruby Mason on a player-up opportunity, cashing in a shot to take a 2-1 lead. The road team would bite back, however, as a goal scored 34 seconds later capped the first quarter scoring, making the game a 2-2 contest. 

The score remained level going into the second quarter, but Marian did not wait long to get back to scoring, as Alex Dean and Delaney Koles each scored three minutes into the period. The pair of goals gave the Knights a 4-2 edge, as they would hang onto the lead for the remainder of the game after the spree. Pellmann would score shortly after Koles' goal to bring the game within a goal, as the score progressed to a 5-4 count in favor of Marian following goals from Alex Dean and Bella Louwerse. 

The LTU goal would be their final of the half, and Marian's offense created separation in the final seven minutes of the half, first getting a two-goal advantage on Rylie Boezeman's power play goal. The defense would create a late opportunity for Marian, and with 10 seconds remaining in the half, Ella Grace Giedd scored a goal after a crisp Ruby Mason pass, taking Marian on top 7-4 entering halftime. 

Lawrence Tech would put early pressure on the Knights to start the second half, as they began the third quarter with a pair of goals to whittle the lead to one. Marian collected themselves after the break, and in the eighth minute of the quarter, Giedd took the game over, scoring twice in 13 seconds to reclaim Marian's three-goal edge. 

The two goals gave Marian a 9-6 lead entering the final stanza, and 77 seconds into the fourth quarter, Rylie Boezeman extended the lead, capping a 3-0 run with an unassisted goal on an empty net, giving the Knights a four-goal cushion. The margin would be the largest of the night, and would only shrink by one in the final 13 minutes of the game, as Lawrence Tech managed just one goal in the fourth quarter. Esbeydi Montes sealed the game after the defense continued to deny the Blue Devils, as the sophomore netted a goal with 1:25 to play, sealing the lead.

Marian would force one final turnover and run out the remaining minute on the clock, closing out their first-ever championship with an 11-7 victory. 

Aniyah Jones had her best night in goal for Marian, making nine pivotal saves in the cage to earn her 10th win of the season. Jones also caused one of the team's 15 forced miscues, while Olivia Dean had a team-high three caused turnovers. Ella Grace Giedd and Rylie Boezeman each had hat tricks in the win, while Giedd finished with six points after logging three assists. 

Marian will learn their opponent in the NAIA Tournament on Monday, May 4, at 5:00 p.m. The NAIA Tournament Selection Show will air on YouTube. 

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