BUIES CREEK, NC – Jenna Kasmarik and Danielle Ellis each tallied nine points Friday as the Winthrop lacrosse team downed the Campbell Camels 21-10.
The Eagles improved to 11-2 overall and 3-0 in the Big South, winning their fourth straight contest. Campbell fell to 3-10 overall and 0-3 in the conference.
Kasmarik scored nine goals Friday, setting a new Winthrop single-game record and tying the Big South Conference record for goals in a game. Kasmarik netted her nine goals on only 12 shots and also grabbed four draw controls. Ellis scored two goals and seven assists, setting a new single-game Winthrop assists record.
Freshman Kristen Shriver added to her team-leading assist total as she helped on four goals and also added two of her own. Junior Shannon Gallagher added three goals while Katie Clark and Logan McCarthy each scored twice while McCarthy also added an assist. Freshman goalie Alaina Girani picked up her 11th win of the season as she made 11 saves.
Winthrop had a strong star to the contest, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the opening 9:52 of the contest. Senior Jenna Kasmarik notched two goals and juniors Logan McCarthy and Danielle Ellis each scored one two give the Eagles the four-goal cushion. Freshman Kristen Shriver notched two assists and Ellis notched one helper on the first four goals.
After Campbell pulled two goals back to get within 4-2 11:39 remaining, Kasmarik netted her third of the half. The Camels scored the next three to tie the game at 5-5 with 4:36 on the clock.
Winthrop had a strong close to the first half, scoring twice in the final two minutes. Junior Shannon Gallagher and Shriver each tallied a goal to give the Eagles a 7-5 lead at the break.
The Eagles grabbed the first goal of the second half, but Campbell quickly responded. Winthrop then rattled off four straight goals to go up 12-6 with 21:37 remaining. The Camels took three of the next five tallies and were down 14-9 with just under 14 minutes to play.
Winthrop responded in a big way to put the Camels away, scoring the next six goals, taking a 20-9 lead with less than two minutes to play. Campbell did tack on one more goal, but the Eagles closed it out with a final tally with 14 seconds left to reach the 21-10 final.
The Eagles limited the Big South's second-leading scorer Loren Day to only four shots on the afternoon and only one goal and two assists. Three Camels tied for the team lead with two goals apiece.
Winthrop finished with 36 total shots to Campbell's 26. The Camels edged the Eagles on ground balls 22-21 but Winthrop won the draw-control battle 19-14. The Eagles were 25-for-27 on clear attempts and also forced nine turnovers.
The Eagles will return home on Sunday as Winthrop hosts Coastal Carolina at 1 p.m. at Eagle Field.
