For the sixth straight season, the Lenoir-Rhyne Women’s Lacrosse team opened SAC play with a victory as the Bears defeated Mars Hill 15-7 inside Moretz Stadium on Saturday. Kaitlyn Cavanaugh had a career-high five goals while Chloe Christensen and Kirra Olson each had their first career hat tricks

Neither team had more then a goal advantage as the Bears scored the two goal of the period to take a 3-2 lead after one. A 5-0 run by the Bears to end the first quarter and to begin the second quarter, including three straight from Cavanaugh, gave the Bears a 6-2 lead.
The teams traded goals to end the half as the Bears maintained their four-goal lead they built in the period.

Christensen’s third goal of the game closed the third quarter scoring for the Bears as LR grew their lead to six heading into the final quarter.

After a Mars Hill strike to open the fourth, LR sealed the game with three straight with two by Kirra Olson to make it 14-6. Cavanaugh finished with five goals — on five shots — and one assist and Christensen had three goals and one helper while Olson hat three goals and two assists.

Teanna Sieben made nine saves to earn the win in goal including her 500th career save. LR held a 29-25 lead in shots and 16-10 advantage in draw controls.

The Bears remain perfect against Mars Hill all-time as LR is now 5-0 against the Lions. This is the sixth straight year the Bears have won their SAC opener.

Cavanaugh’s previous career high was a four goal game on March 12, 2021 against Young Harris. Dunham remained one cause turnover away from tying Claire Wach for most in program history. Sieben became just the second LR goalie to reach 500 saves in her career.
Ines Flueck holds the record with 606 saves from 2015-18.

Lenoir-Rhyne is 2-3 overall, 1-0 in the South Atlantic Conference. The Bears will conclude their six game homestand to open the year when Lander comes to town on Wednesday at 4 PM.