Women’s lacrosse team suffers 14-9 setback to Southwestern

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College women's lacrosse team suffered a 14-9 setback to Southwestern (Texas) University this afternoon on a cold and windy day at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet.

The Pirates jumped out to a 5-0 lead with five goals in the first seven minutes of the game. Junior Taylor Guarnaccia (East Lansing/Haslett) scored the Comets' first goal at the 12:13 mark. Southwestern responded with three consecutive goals for a 7-1 lead. Guarnaccia and junior Mackenzie Inman (Union City) both scored in the final 98 seconds of the opening half to cut Olivet's deficit down to 7-3 at the break.

After the Pirates scored the first goal of the second half, Guarnaccia and Inman each found the back of the net to make the score 8-5. The teams traded goals until a goal by Inman with 7:19 remaining in the game brought the Comets within two, 11-9. Southwestern tallied the final three goals of the game to cause the final score.

Offensively, Olivet scored nine goals on 17 total shots. Inman led the way with four goals, while Guarnaccia had three and junior Geri Merrell (Battle Creek/Lakeview) had two. Merrell finished with a team-leading six shots, followed by Inman (5) and Guarnaccia (4). Merrell and junior Brittany Hayes (Battle Creek/Lakeview) scooped up three ground balls apiece. In net, freshman Xavier Vance (West Bloomfield) made five saves on 28 Pirate shots.

The Comets are back in action tomorrow afternoon when they host Trine (Ind.) University to open Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play. Opening draw is set for 1 p.m.