FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Junior Caroline Mitchell (Berwyn, Pa./Conestoga) picked up a ground ball off a broken play near midfield and charged in before firing into the center of the net with 7:48 remaining to score the game-winner in a 12-11 triumph for the Lycoming College women's lacrosse team in a back-and-forth second half at Methodist University on Sunday afternoon, March 19.
 
Leading by a goal at halftime, the Warriors (2-2 overall) fell behind just 1:26 into the second half, as the Monarchs (4-6 overall) scored twice to take an 11-10 lead. Both teams hunkered down defensively, combining to force 21 turnovers in the second half before junior Jordan Lazarich (Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park) zoomed in at the top of the arc to pick up a rebound of a shot and as she made her way right, she delivered a shot low into the net.
 
The Warriors scored the game-winner on a broken play, as senior goalkeeper Nicole Gerling (Millstone Township, N.J./Allentown) stepped out of net to make an interception and then, she raced out of the crease and fired down field. The ensuing scrum for the ball was won by Mitchell, who rolled out on a fastbreak and fired the shot into the center of the net.
 
Lycoming's defense held firm from there, with Gerling making one save and the team forcing three turnovers in the final eight minutes to hold on for the one-goal win.
 
The Warriors jumped out quickly in the first half, scoring three goals in the first 3:13 to gain control during what became a 9-3 run that took up the first 19 minutes of the game. Lazarich, junior Caroline Mitchell (Berwyn, Pa./Conestoga) and freshman Hailey Kimble (Corning, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post) each scored two goals during the run. Freshman Alexis Tchou (Mount Airy, Md./Urbana) capped the run with a free-position goal before finding Lazarich inside for the ninth goal with 11:30 left in the half.
 
The Monarchs roared back, scoring six goals in a span of nine minutes to tie the game at nine off the third goal from Madison Ronelli, but the Warriors took the lead into the break when freshman Natalie Schroeder (Edgewater, Md./Annapolis) found senior Leanne Shaw (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) wide open in front of the net for a score.
 
Mitchell and Lazarich each led the Warriors with three goals a piece, as Lazarich also posted three ground balls and four draw controls. Sophomore Kelly McGinniss (Randolph, N.J./Randolph) had one goal, three ground balls and six draw controls. Shaw also had a goal and three draw controls.
 
Ronelli led the Monarchs with four goals and Tori Monahan and Monti Hendrix each had three scores. Hendrix also had three draw controls and Sarena Pillow posted an assist, three caused turnovers and two groundballs.
 
Gerling (2-2) made five saves to go with three ground balls and three caused turnovers in the win. Janelle Gant allowed eight goals and stopped six shots in 49 minutes in the loss for Methodist.
 
The Warriors neared many milestones in the game, as Lazarich is two points shy of becoming the 11^th player in school history to reach 150 in a career and three goals shy of becoming the 13^th to score 100 times. McGinniss is eight draw controls shy of becoming the eighth to post 150 in a career. Gerling is two saves shy of becoming the third to make 400 stops in a career and one win shy of becoming the second to win 30 in a career.
 
The Warriors get back on the field on Tuesday, March 21, when they head to Misericordia University for a 4 p.m. non-conference game.