Clinton, S.C. – Sophie Shaw totaled a game high six points on Saturday afternoon to lead the Furman women's lacrosse team to a 16-11 victory over the Presbyterian College Blue Hose in its regular season finale at Bailey Memorial Stadium.
Furman concludes the regular season on a three-game winning streak while improving to 10-7 overall and 7-2 in the Big South. The win gives the Paladins their sixth 10-plus victory campaign in program history and first since 2021. With the loss, Presbyterian College's season ends at 6-11 overall and 3-6 in conference play.
Furman began the contest on a 6-1 run to hold a five-goal advantage with 1:42 remaining in the first quarter. After the Blue Hose scored the game's opening goal, the Paladins answered with six consecutive to lead by five on Shaw's third goal of the quarter. Presbyterian College cut its deficit down to two, 6-4, but were held scoreless for the final 6:09 of the first half as Furman picked up a pair of goals from Shaw and
Meagan Beal. Beal's second goal of the game put the Paladins ahead 8-4 at halftime.
The Blue Hose would only get as close as four goals twice to start the second half with the last coming at 10-6 with 7:24 to go in the third quarter. Furman responded with a 5-2 run over the next 15 minutes, extending its lead to 15-8 at the 8:36 mark of the fourth quarter following
Audrey Smith's second goal of the season.
Presbyterian College attempted a late comeback by scoring three straight goals over a five-minute stretch, but
Hannah Dintino sealed the 16-11 triumph for the Paladins with just over one minute remaining in regulation.
Offensively, three different Furman players registered hat tricks, led by Shaw's four goals. The junior from Granville, Ohio, led all players with a game high six points after dishing out two assists while winning 11 draws. Beal and
Paige Harman both finished with four points. Harman and
Libby Bowen both tied Shaw with two assists.
Sophia Buzelis caused two turnovers. In goal,
Lily Rathbun recorded seven saves and a team high three ground balls.
Willow Hammond paced the Blue Hose offensively with five points on four goals and one assist. Kylie Sullivan provided three points on two goals and an assist. Lilly Phillips posted 13 saves in goal.
The Paladins, who forced Presbyterian College into 12 turnovers, held a 19-11 advantage in draws and tallied 11 ground balls.
Furman now heads to Macon, Ga. for the 2023 Big South Women's Lacrosse Championship. The Paladins' will play in the semifinals on Friday, May 5 at either 4 p.m. or 7 p.m. from Mercer's Five Star Stadium. Stay tuned to www.furmanpaladins.com to see who Furman will face on Friday.
