Women’s Lacrosse Trumps Garnets
Steph Colson ’19 proved strong on the defensive side in Saturday’s game versus Swarthmore College (Photo David Sinclair/Gettysburg College Athletics)
By Churon Lanier-Martin, Contributing Writer
The Gettysburg College women’s lacrosse team followed a tough loss to nationally ranked fifth-place Franklin and Marshall College Wednesday with a comfortable win over Swarthmore College Saturday.
The 2017 national champions are now 9-1 overall and 3-1 in Centennial Conference play. Their record ranks them third in the conference, behind first place Franklin and Marshall College and second place Washington College.
The Bullets fell to the Franklin and Marshall Diplomats 8-4. After trailing 5-2 in the first half, the Gettysburg fought to get back in the game, limiting the Diplomat offense to 3 goals.
A 15-minute scoring drought allowed the Franklin and Marshall victory.
The Diplomats last faced the Bullets in the Centennial Conference Championships last spring, and they have been repeated top-ranked contenders for many years.
After suffering their first loss of the season, the Lady Bullets went to the Swarthmore home field and claimed it as their own. Gettysburg beat the Swarthmore Garnet ladies 16-3.
While Gettysburg had 16 turnovers throughout the 60 minutes, Swarthmore could only initiate nine.
Many Bullets padded the stat sheet to bring home the W.
First year Kerry McKeever continued her successful debut season with her 25th goal of the spring.
Teammate senior Maggie Welsh scored a career high four goals during the game, while junior Steph Colson and sophomore Ella Orzechowski each tallied their highest point totals of their individual careers with three each, respectively.
Much different from their last contest, the Bullets dominated the offensive end of the field by scoring six goals before the Garnets’ first.
Colson alone reported three goals, three assists, two caused turnovers, and four draw controls, while Welsh demonstrated her offensive prowess netting more goals in this contest than this entire regular season.
Junior goalie Bailey Pilder held up on the defensive end saving 10 goals in less than 38 minutes of play and allowing only 3 goals overall.
Pilder has earned the Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Week for women’s lacrosse twice in the past month and has 66 saves under her belt, ranking her seventh amongst the Conference goalie leaders.
Aside from the loss at Franklin and Marshall, Pilder has not allowed more than 5 goals in a game this season. In Gettysburg’s match against the College of New Jersey, she saved a career high 13 goals.
The Bullets have shown their depth in their multiple scoring options as well.
Standout first year Kerry McKeever is tied for the most goals on the team and leads the team in points.
McKeever believes her choice in Gettysburg is a great fit for her. The welcoming upperclassmen and coaches make for a great team.
“Everyone works so hard to make those around them better, and a lot is expected of you no matter what year you are,” said McKeever.
Averaging 2.5 goals a game, McKeever has performed and scored on playoff favored teams, posting four points in wins against Messiah College and Mary Washington College.
Against last year’s national women’s lacrosse runner up the College of New Jersey, McKeever started the game and had an assist in a 9-5 win.
“The intensity and the crowd were so fun to be a part of, and of course it was a huge win,” said McKeever.
This week the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Associated ranked the Bullets second in the nation for division III. The loss against Franklin & Marshall College caused Gettysburg to fall under the undefeated Salisbury University. This is the first week the Bullets have not been ranked first all season.
The Bullets will return to Clark Field at Gettysburg College for Centennial Conference play against the Haverford College Fords at 1PM Saturday April 14.
