#3 Furman Holds Off #6 Winthrop, Advances to Semifinals
Hannah Dintino had a game high five points and Lily Rathbun recorded 11 saves to lead the third-seeded Furman women’s lacrosse team past No. 6 seed Winthrop, 16-13, on Saturday afternoon in the first round of the Big South Women’s Lacrosse Championship at Paladin Stadium.
With the win, Furman improves to 8-7 on the season and advances to the semifinals of the Big South Women’s Lacrosse Championship. Winthrop’s season ends at 4-14.
Dintino, a second team All-Big South selection, led the Paladins with a game high five points on four goals and one assist while Anna Roser added four goals. First team All-Big South Meagan Beal contributed four points on two goals and two assists while winning 12 draws. Lauren Farber and Sabrina Caruso both scored two goals, and Sophia Buzelis provided one goal, one assist and two caused turnovers. In goal, Rathbun registered 11 saves and six ground balls.
Alyssa Angelo compiled a team leading five points for the Eagles on three goals and two assists while Claire Witmer scored three goals. Lauren Asher posted three points on two goals and one assist. Grayson McKenzie scored twice and Kimora Bailey caused two turnovers. Kelsey Johnson made nine saves in goal and picked up four ground balls.
Furman outscored Winthrop 2-1 in the fourth quarter with Beal and Dintino registering both goals. The Eagles had cut the Paladins’ lead down to 14-12 at the end of the third quarter before Beal made it a three-goal game less than three minutes into the fourth. Angelo scored at the 10:36 mark, making the score 15-13, before neither team scored for over six minutes. Dintino’s fourth, and final, goal of the contest put the final score at 16-13.
Rathbun recorded six saves throughout the second half and allowed just one goal in the fourth quarter.
Furman opened the game on a 4-1 run and held a seven-goal lead midway through the second quarter. Roser’s third goal with 6:26 remaining in the first half extended the Paladins’ lead out to 11-4.
Furman concluded the game with 35 shots and held an 18-15 advantage in ground balls and 17-16 in draws.
The Paladins will now play second-seeded Mercer in the semifinals of the Big South Women’s Lacrosse Championship at High Point’s Vert Stadium in High Point, N.C. Opening draw is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, May 6.