photo gallery: https://clewisncwc.smugmug.com/4-9-2022-NCWC-LaCross/

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - The NC Wesleyan College women's lacrosse team lost 11-10 in heartbreaking overtime fashion on Saturday in the first-ever game played on the new Don Stallings Field at the Vernon T. Bradley, Jr. Stadium.

Wesleyan and Brevard traded two goals each in the first quarter with senior midfielder Madeline Graham scoring the opening goal on an assist from senior defender Emily Sullivan. Freshman attacker Lily McCarty then scored the second goal off an assist from senior attacker Deja Hartman. Hartman and fellow senior AJ Upchurch would then score 2nd quarter goals for the Bishops as NCWC took a slim 4-3 halftime lead.

Upchurch then extended the lead to 5-3 early in the third before Brevard rallied to tie it at 5 midway through. However, Wesleyan would then take a 7-5 lead into the fourth as they got goals from Graham and sophomore attacker Nakayla Chatman.

In the fourth, the teams combined for 8 goals with BC scoring three of the first four to tie the game at 8. Wesleyan then got back-to-back goals from sophomore midfielder Blaire Harley and McCarty midway through the fourth to lead 10-8. Unfortunately, Brevard would tie the game at 10 and send it to overtime. Brevard then won the game in overtime with 2:19 left scoring after Harley missed the game-winner as her free shot hit off the post. 

Goalie Devin Bautz finished making 7 saves on 18 shots while Graham led with 3 goals on 9 shots and 7 ground balls. Upchurch also played well tallying 6 ground balls and forcing 3 turnovers. Harley then led the way with 7 draw control wins while Graham won four. Sophomore defender Aisling Key also picke dup 4 GBs while Sullivan grabbed three and caused two turnovers. Wesleyan outshot the Tornados 29-22 overall.

Wesleyan falls to 4-10 overall and 3-4 in the conference with the tough loss while Brevard improved to 4-9 and 2-5.

The Bishops will immediately return to action on Sunday at 2:00 pm to host Piedmont University at the new field.