PEPPER PIKE, Ohio – Junior attacker Maddie Kipp scored five goals -- including two at opportune moments -- to help lead the charge for Ursuline in winning the first Great Midwest Athletic Conference Women’s Lacrosse Championship on Saturday, 16-11.
The two-day, three-team conference tournament represented the first in the league’s history as Ursuline, Alderson Broaddus and Davis & Elkins, all participated in the postseason.
The top-seeded Arrows ended up defeating No. 2 Alderson Broaddus for the third time this year. In each meeting, the Battlers scored 11 goals against Ursuline, but a spirited second-half surge fell just short.
Kipp scored in the first 10 seconds of regulation and netted another goal with one second left on the clock before halftime.
Kipp’s fourth goal of the first half resulted in a 10-5 edge for Ursuline at the break.
But Ursuline G-MAC Player of the Year Cydney Bartlett may have provided the nail in the coffin after she intercepted a pass and the Arrows’ defense starved out AB goaltender Fallyn Gonzales attempting to find an open teammate.
Bartlett flipped the outlet pass immediately to a streaking Abigail Neeley for the goal that gave UC a 15-9 advantage with under seven minutes in regulation.
Bartlett with and G-MAC Freshman of the Year Hayley Mazreku and G-MAC Coach of the Year Ed Karasek (all from Ursuline), were honored pregame.
Neeley was instrumental for Ursuline maintaining possession after she won 11 total draw controls. Neeley also tallied three goals while Sarah Kiefer scored four times.
Bartlett finished with a pair of goals and three assists. Sarah Bowerman made 11 saves tending net for the Arrows, including nine stops in the second half.
Alderson Broaddus was coming off a strong win in the semifinals against No. 3 Davis & Elkins as the Battlers won 19-2. The Senators officially completed their first year as a program under head coach Emily Peets.
Due to a string of injuries, Davis & Elkins was forced to play 10 players vs. the traditional 12. The Battlers took control from the onset and head coach Jennifer Guess’ crew beat the Senators for their ninth win of the spring.
Against Ursuline, the Battlers were within striking distance, but just couldn’t overcome a consistent three or four-goal deficit. Morgan Winterbottom scored three goals to lead AB, which had three seniors miss graduation back in Philippi to conclude their collegiate careers.
The accomplished senior trio of Tia Kline, Aurora Winwood and Ellen Wilkins, were each recognized before the starting lineups were introduced.