Box Score

WISE, Va. – Senior midfielder Sarah Wendt (Ellicott City, Md./Howard) scored a game-high five goals to lead Shepherd (8-6) to a 12-11 win over Wheeling Jesuit (6-10) in semifinal action of the MEC Women's Lacrosse Tournament at UVa-Wise on Friday afternoon.

Sophomore midfielder Elishia Davis (Charleston, W.Va./George Washington) added two goals and two assists, while freshman attacker Sidney Kelly (Hagerstown, Md./South Hagerstown) added a pair of goals and an assist.

Sophomore attacker/midfielder Lillian Funke (Hagerstown, Md./Boonsboro)  and sophomore attackers Emily Brown (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) and Jordan Sauro (Mt. Airy, Md./South Carroll/Shippensburg) each added single tallies.

The Shepherd defense was led by senior defender Anna Munford (Purcellville, Va./Loudoun Valley) with six caused turnovers and sophomore defender Lyric Feingold-Conaway (Westminster, Md./Winters Mill) with six ground balls.

Markie Wright had three goals, while Bethany Wallingford and Gionna Alessandro each scored a pair of goals for the Cardinals. Kori Hickman added a goal and three assists.

Shepherd had a 5-4 lead at the break behind a pair of first-half goals from Wendt.

Shepherd scored five consecutive goals midway through the second period to take an 11-8 lead. After the two teams exchanged goals, Wheeling Jesuit got an unassisted goal by Wright with 37 seconds left and another by Alessandro with six seconds remaining to cut the lead to 12-11. Wendt won the draw for Shepherd as the Rams held on for the win.

Wheeling Jesuit held a 34-31 advantage in shots. Shepherd had a 14-12 edge in draw controls and a 32-27 advantage in ground balls. Shepherd was 24-of-29 in clears, while Wheeling Jesuit was 22-of-26.

Senior goalkeeper Casey Hickman (Ijamsville, Md./Urbana) recorded 11 saves for the Rams, while Elizabeth Hanks posted seven saves for the Cardinals.

The Rams return to action on Sunday when they face host UVa-Wise at 1 p.m. in the finals of the MEC Tournament.

Postgame Press Conference