‘Cats Reach Semis, Down VCU 17-13

Thursday, May 3

Richmond, Va.

11:30 a.m.

Davidson College Athletics

11-7, 5-4

vs. VCU (quarters)

7-11, 5-4

Team	1	2	Final F
Davidson	10	7	17
VCU	6	7	13

Photo by: Atlantic 10 Conference

5/3/2018 3:14:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

Gavin McFarlin - Associate SID

Box Score (pdf)
Photo Gallery
Game Highlights
DavidsonPhotos.com

RICHMOND, Va. — For the second straight season, the Davidson women's lacrosse team is moving onto the semifinals at the Atlantic 10 Lacrosse Championship after downing fourth-seeded VCU, 17-13, Thursday afternoon at Robins Stadium on the campus of Richmond.

The fifth-seeded Wildcats (11-7) will take a four-game winning streak into the semifinals where they will face off against No. 1 seed UMass tomorrow at 1 p.m. Both teams met last year in the semis as well, with the 'Cats falling 21-6.

Up 11-10 after VCU cut into the 'Cats' four-goal lead 10 minutes into the start of the second half, the duo of Christine Molinari and Sam Rippley netted back-to-back scores as part of a 6-2 run that would seal up the victory. The Wildcats avenged an overtime defeat to the Rams during the regular season.

Molinari, who added one more goal in the game-changing run, finished with a career-high five goals to lead the Davidson attack. Rippley was just as good, registering a season-best five points on a season-high four goals and an assist.

Two more multi-goal scorers on the day were Jordan Wood, who had a hat trick to give her a team and career-best 43 goals, and an assist, and Sophia Sgroi (2 goals).

VCU was paced by Molly Barcikowski and Keriann McTavish with five points each. Barcikowski had four goals and an assist, while McTavish scored three goals and earned two assists. Sky Hyatt finished with two goals and an assist.

Behind first-half hat tricks from Molinari and Rippley, Davidson held a 10-6 lead at the end of the first 30 minutes. The Wildcats trailed 3-2 early, but used a 4-0 spurt, led by Wood's goal and assist in the run, to take command at 6-3 with 16:03 on the clock.

VCU later closed with two, 7-5, before Rippley doubled up the Rams at 10-5 on a free-position goal with 5:11 remaining. Molinari had back-to-back scores as well to help push the lead out to five.

The box score stats were fairly close, as Davidson had a 33-30 edge in shots and VCU won the battle for groundballs (17-16) and draw controls (18-14). The Wildcats were 3-of-4 on free-position shots, while goalie Rose Woolson halted all four of the Rams' attempts.

Woolson, fresh off being named to the league's all-first team, had her 10th double-digit save game by stopping 11 shots and scooped up three groundballs.

Freshman Natalie Junior had a solid game defensively with four groundballs and a couple of caused turnovers. A-10 All-First Teamer Sarah Kopp tied her career-high with seven draw controls to go with her career-high 30th goal.