ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop lacrosse team will finish the non-conference portion of its schedule this weekend with a road game at Jacksonville Friday before hosting Detroit Mercy on Sunday.
Winthrop will enter Friday's 4 p.m. contest at Jacksonville with a 5-4 overall record. The Eagles are coming off a 22-8 rout of the Kennesaw State Owls last Sunday at Eagle Field.
In Winthrop's first year of competition the Eagles are making a name for themselves in the national statistical rankings both as a team and individually.
The Eagles currently lead the Big South and are fifth in the nation in total points (goals+assists) with 185. The freshman duo of Megan Wallenhorst and Shannon Gallagher has been dominating the conference in total points with 41 and 37 total points respectively. They are ranked as the top two in the conference and sixth and 11th respectively in NCAA Division I.
Gallagher also leads the conference in goals per game with 3.63 which ranks her seventh in the country. Wallenhorst is second in the conference and 16th in Division I in assists with 17.
Fellow freshman Hayley Krause has been solid for the Eagles in the center circle. She is dominating the conference in draw controls with 6.11 per game, leading by nearly three draw controls per game. Her 6.11 draws per contest rank her fourth in the nation. Winthrop as a team, ranks sixth in the nation and first in the conference in draw controls with 15.11 per game.
The Dolphins of Jacksonville University will be a solid test for the Eagles as they prepare for the rest of conference play. Jacksonville is currently 6-3 overall and averages more than 13 goals per contest. The Dolphins are coming off a 17-7 victory over Marist on Tuesday.
Jacksonville is a solid squad on ground balls as the Dolphins lead the nation, picking up 23.88 ground balls per game. Senior Amanda Hurley leads the team with 20 goals while Taylor McCord leads the team in total points with 27 on 15 goals and 12 assists.
The Titans of Detroit University come to Winthrop on Sunday for a 1 p.m. contest against the Eagles. Detroit will play at Coastal Carolina on Friday. The Titans will enter Friday's contest with a 1-7 overall record.
Detroit's last game was a 14-13 loss to Big South member Campbell University. The Titans score an average of 7.75 goals per game while allowing an average of 12.75 goals per contest. Senior Zaynib Hamze leads the Titans with 13 goals this season.
Following this weekend's non-conference contests, the Eagles will conclude the season with six Big South matches, three on the road and three at home.
