HUNTSVILLE, Ala. --- A run of 10 straight goals erased a second-quarter deficit for the University of Alabama Huntsville as the Chargers defeated Tusculum University 20-6 in non-conference women's lacrosse action Saturday afternoon.
Nine different players scored goals for the Chargers (2-2), with four goals and an assist from Katie Williams and three goals apiece from Megan Robertson and Isadora Springer. Stephanie Sheehan had two goals and two assists for the Chargers, who held the Pioneers to nine shots over the last three quarters after being outshot 10-5 in the opening period.
Tia Daniel became the fifth player in Tusculum program history to reach 100 career goals as she scored twice for the Pioneers (1-2), who also received goals from Emma Miller, Abby Lockwood, Kamryn McNeil and Lucy Brewer. Daniel joins Juliette Cusano (163), Savannah Elliott (139), Rachel Holmes (119) and Kelsey Crow (100) in the 100-goal club for the Pioneers.
Tusculum went up 1-0 on a goal from Miller just 1:25 into the opening quarter, but goals from Williams and Katie Gerber put the Chargers ahead 2-1 with 9:12 left. The Pioneers would net three in a row from McNeil, Lockwood and Daniel to carry a 4-2 lead into the second quarter.
After Sheehan brought the Chargers within 4-3 in the first minute of the second period, Brewer scored on a free-position shot for a 5-3 Tusculum lead with 13:29 left in the half. From there, it was all Chargers as Springer scored three goals as part of a 9-0 run over a nine-minute span that pushed Alabama Huntsville ahead 12-5 at halftime.
Sheehan pushed the Chargers in front 13-5 just 21 seconds into the third quarter before the Pioneers got back on the board with Daniel's 100th career goal with 12:53 left in the third. The Chargers would score the final seven goals of the game, with two each from Williams and Anastasia Lajoie.
Daniel led the Pioneers with four ground balls and four draw controls while Brewer also had four draw controls for the Pioneers. Jadyn Gleason added three draw controls and Morgan Correia was credited with three caused turnovers for Tusculum. Sarah Cole led UAH with 10 draw controls, with five draw controls and three ground balls from Chloe Wood.
Kari Ham had five saves in goal in the first half for the Pioneers, with three saves for Emily White in the second half. Tori Ryan played the first half in goal for the Chargers and finished with six saves, followed by Shaina Doser who made two saves after halftime.
The Pioneers will be home for two matches next week, with a visit from North Greenville on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Pioneer Field.
