Matthews, N.C. – In a thrilling showdown at the Matthews SportsPlex, the Limestone Saints women's lacrosse team emerged victorious against the Wingate Bulldogs with a final score of 16-7, clinching the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Championship for the second consecutive year. This back-to-back championship win marks a significant achievement for Limestone, who now hold a season record of 14-5, while Wingate concludes their season at 17-2.

Scoring Summary

The game started with Wingate taking an early lead, scoring four goals in the first period while Limestone managed only one. However, Limestone's resilience shone through as they dominated the subsequent periods.

First Period: At 10:07, Limestone's Sophie Shortino opened the scoring with an assist from Joscelin Martin. Wingate quickly responded at 08:21 when Nelida Watson, assisted by D. Scarfogliero, equalized the score. Watson scored again at 05:18, putting Wingate ahead. Kaleigh Wilgeroth extended Wingate's lead at 04:39 with an assist from Bree Solero. Finally, Julia Garvin scored unassisted at 02:41, making it 4-1 in favor of Wingate.

Second Period: Limestone demonstrated their resilience in the second period, gradually closing the gap and eventually tying the game. Reese Hjertaas started the comeback at 13:48 with an unassisted goal. Wingate's Watson scored her third goal at 11:30, assisted by Scarfogliero, but Limestone continued to fight back. At 10:03, Sophie Shortino scored unassisted, followed by Deirdre Jones at 09:13, also unassisted, bringing Limestone closer. Keira Martin scored unassisted at 06:48, tying the game at 5-5. Wingate's Scarfogliero scored at 06:08, assisted by Amelia Benner, but Limestone responded with Shannon Creagh scoring unassisted at 04:15. Wingate's Amelia Benner scored at 01:10, assisted by Krysta Churns, ending the period with Wingate leading 7-6.

Third Period: The third period was a turning point for Limestone, as they dominated the field and scored seven unanswered goals, completely shifting the momentum of the game. Shannon Creagh, assisted by Joscelin Martin, tied the game at 10:53. Deirdre Jones scored unassisted at 09:59, giving Limestone the lead. Sophie Shortino scored unassisted at 08:41, followed by Joscelin Martin, assisted by Evelynn Vissari, at 06:31. Jones scored unassisted again at 04:11, and Shortino scored unassisted at 01:20. Jones capped off the period with another unassisted goal at 00:15, ending the period with Limestone leading 13-7.

Fourth Period: Limestone continued their dominance in the fourth period, securing their victory with three more goals. Joscelin Martin, assisted by Keira Martin, scored at 11:37. Reese Hjertaas scored unassisted at 06:00, and Martin, assisted by Keira Martin, scored the final goal at 02:32, sealing the win at 16-7.

Key Players

Limestone's standout players included Deirdre Jones with 4 goals, Sophie Shortino with 4 goals, Joscelin Martin with 3 goals and multiple assists, Reese Hjertaas and Shannon Creagh each contributing 2 goals, and Keira Martin with 1 goal and crucial assists.

Looking Ahead

With this championship win, Limestone looks forward to competing in the NCAA tournament, aiming to build on their momentum and achieve further success. Wingate, despite the loss, will reflect on a highly successful season and prepare for future challenges.