Thrilling ASUN Semifinal: Lindenwood Lacrosse Fights Hard but Falls Short

The Lindenwood women’s lacrosse team faced a tough match against Liberty in the ASUN semifinals, losing 17-12. The game took place on Thursday in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Game Summary

Lindenwood kicked off the scoring early with Reese Krieger netting a goal just under a minute into the game. Isabella Rulapaugh quickly added another, putting the Lions ahead 2-0. Liberty responded, however, and soon tied the game at 2-2.

The Flames took their first lead at 6:54 in the first quarter, but Luci Selander quickly evened things up at 3-3. Rulapaugh then scored again, pushing Lindenwood ahead 4-3. Liberty managed to score before the end of the quarter, leaving the score tied at 4.

In the second quarter, Lindenwood surged ahead with three quick goals from Selander and Krieger. This gave them a 7-4 lead. But Liberty answered back, scoring three to level the game at 7-7. The teams exchanged goals, with Ryleigh Cavanaugh helping Lindenwood regain the lead, only for Liberty to tie it once more. Alissa DiGiacinto later scored for Lindenwood, ending the half with a narrow 9-8 lead.

The second half started with Liberty scoring three unanswered goals, shifting the score to 11-9. Krieger ended Liberty’s run, but the Flames added two more to lead 13-10 by the end of the third quarter.

In the final quarter, Liberty continued their momentum, taking a 15-10 lead. Selander managed to score again, making it 15-11, but Liberty responded with two goals. Although Krieger scored once more for Lindenwood, they couldn’t close the gap and lost 17-12.

Top Performers

Both Luci Selander and Reese Krieger led the team with four goals each. Aislinn Sweeney stood out in goal, making 12 saves during the match.

Recent Trends in Women’s Lacrosse

Women’s lacrosse has been gaining popularity across the United States, with participation numbers rising dramatically over the last decade. According to a recent report from the National Federation of State High School Associations, high school lacrosse participation increased by 21% from 2010 to 2020. Additionally, college-level women’s teams are now becoming more competitive, pushing traditional programs to elevate their game.

Expert opinions highlight the importance of building strong youth programs to continue this momentum. Coaches emphasize developing skills early and fostering a passion for the sport. As the sport continues to grow, we can expect even more thrilling matches in the future.

For more details on women’s lacrosse, check out this report from the NCAA here.

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