Women’s lacrosse team beats Baldwin Wallace, 8-6

BEREA, Ohio – The Olivet College women's lacrosse team fell behind 3-0 deficit in the first two minutes and 30 seconds of the game before rallying to beat Baldwin Wallace (Ohio) University, 8-6, today on Tressel Field and inside the George Finnie Stadium in Berea, Ohio.

After the Yellow Jackets raced out to the 3-0 lead, the Comets responded with four straight goals to take a 4-3 lead. Sophomore Geri Merrell (Battle Creek/Lakeview) scored the first goal, followed by three goals for sophomore Taylor Guarnaccia (East Lansing/Haslett).

BW ended Olivet's scoring run with a goal midway through the first half to tie the game at 4-4. The Comets then scored two goals in a span of 25 seconds to take 6-4 lead at halftime. Sophomore Mimi Garza (Battle Creek/Pennfield) tallied the first one at the 1:45 mark, and Guarnaccia added her fourth goal of the game 25 seconds later.

The Yellow Jackets scored twice in the first six and half minutes of the second stanza to tie the game at 6-6. Olivet grabbed the lead back less than a minute later on a man-up goal by Garza, which was assisted by Merrell. The Comets surged ahead by two goals, 8-6, at the 8:16 mark when freshman Brooke Stano (Commerce Twp./Walled Lake Northern) found the back of the net for her first collegiate goal.

The game statistics were nearly equal for both teams. Olivet had a slight edge, 21-17, in total shots and 15-10 edge in shots-on-goal. The Comets recorded 23 groundballs to 20 for BW, and Olivet had two less turnovers, 22-24. Garza and Guarnaccia each took six shots, placing five and four, respectively on goal. Merrell had five shots, including four on-goal.

Guarnaccia and freshman Ana Gomez (Rochester Hills/Notre Dame Prep) scooped up five groundballs apiece. Freshman Kaylee Liddle (Clarkston) picked-up three groundballs and caused three turnovers. Sophomore Sarah Shaw (Grand Haven) played the entire game between the pipes and made four total saves.

The Comets return to the field next Saturday, March 30, for a noon game at University of Mount Union (Ohio). The game is a part of a lacrosse doubleheader with the Purple Raiders, as the Olivet men will play UMU after the women's game.