The Lenoir-Rhyne Women’s Lacrosse Team was staring at a 13-5 deficit with 14:34 to play in the fourth quarter but the Bears refused to go down and went on a 9-3 scoring run before time ran back on their comeback attempt, ultimately falling 16-14. The nine goals scored in the fourth quarter are the most goals in a quarter for LR on the season and the most since scoring nine in the first quarter against Coker on March 5, 2022.

UVA Wise scored first just 1:35 into the game before the Bears answered with three straight goals. Kirra Olson assisted on a pair of those goals which were scored by three different players. The hosts would then seize control of the game with a 6-0 scoring run. Kaitlyn Cavanaugh ended the run with a goal at the 8:53 mark of the second quarter before the Cavs tacked on three more.

The half would end with a Chloe Christensen goal at the 1:58 mark and the Cavs taking a 10-5 advantage into the second half.

LR’s offense went cold in the third quarter, being held without a goal in the frame and registering just five shots. On the defensive end, LR held the Cavs to just a pair of goals as the third quarter ended with a 12-5 lead for UVA Wise. Caitlyn Schultz opened the fourth quarter with a UVA Wise goal to make it 13-5 before LR stormed back.

Cavanaugh netted a pair but they were sandwiched between goals from the hosts as it was 15-7 at the 8:58 mark. Alexa Burghardt and Ellie Campbell (2) started a 3-0 spurt to cut it to 15-10 before UVA Wise netted their final goal of the contest. With 2:27 to play, LR poured in four goals with two coming off the stick of Campbell to make it 16-14 but time would run out on the furious comeback attempt.

Campbell finished with a season-high five goals and Cavanaugh had four goals and two assists. Cavanaugh added a career-high three caused turnovers. Christensen added four ground balls, four draw controls and a caused turnover.

Campbell’s career high in goals is six which she scored against Mars Hill on April 23, 2022. Teanna Sieben made 10 saves to give her 537 for her career. Sieben is 70 saves away from breaking Ines Flueck’s career mark of 606 saves.

LR is 3-3 all-time against UVA Wise but are still in search of their first win in Carl Smith Stadium. LR, Limestone and UVA Wise are in a three-way tie for third place in the league standings.

The Bears are now 54-16 all-time in SAC games. LR has scored in double figures in each of their last three games.

Lenoir-Rhyne drops thier first conference game of the season, moving to 4-5 overall, 3-1 in the South Atlantic Conference. The Bears will return to action on Saturday when they travel to Belmont Abbey for a 6 p.m. opening draw.