Lebanon Valley 14, Widener 12
 
LVC Starters
Kelley, John, Eck, Ernst, Federowicz, Hathaway, Brewer, Little, Bash, Gabriel, Venezia, Oliveras (GK)
 
Widener Starters
Lynch, Kelley, Bert, Bretz, DiGilio, Lindberger, Colella, Rohrer, Steffney, Racioppi, Punte, Hayes (GK)
 
How It Happened
ANNVILLE, Pa. – Lebanon Valley staved off a potential late comeback bid by Widener University and hung on to defeat the Pride 14-12 in each team's women's lacrosse MAC Commonwealth opener on Wednesday night. The Dutchmen improved to 4-5, 1-0 MAC Commonwealth, while Widener fell to 3-6, 0-1 MAC Commonwealth.
 
Early on in the first, Widener's Emma DiGilio scored an up-goal with 22:09 remaining to give the Pride an early 2-1 lead, but it was all LVC from there, as the Dutchmen scored the next seven goals, including two from Veronica Venezia and two from Jaclyn Little, to take an 8-2 advantage with 15:47 to go in the first. Widener's Kelly Lynch stopped LVC's spurt with a goal 45 seconds later, but Little answered with an u-goal from Brittany Hathaway to put the home team back up by six at 9-3. After Makenzie Kelley netted her 20th of the season, the visitors put two straight on the board to make it a 10-5 score, but Kelley answered with 41 seconds remaining and gave the Dutchmen an 11-5 advantage heading into the second half.
 
Slowly, the Pride inched closer to LVC, beginning with two quick goals to begin second-half action and come to within four. Little scored her 18th of the season to make it a 12-7 game, but Widener answered with two consecutive scores to come to within three at 12-9 with 16:42 left in the game. With 10:55 to go, Kelley put LVC back up by four, followed by another goal from the senior at 6:41 to make it 14-9. The Pride made things interesting in the final minutes and came to within two with 56 seconds left, but Jen Eck controlled the ensuing draw and the Dutchmen ran the clock out and secured the conference victory.
 
Inside the Numbers
 - Kelley finished with four goals on nine shots.
 - Little also scored four times and added an assist and two draw controls.
 - Veronica John netted a pair of goals on three shots.
 - Venezia went for two goals and four assists for six points while scopping up two ground balls, causing a turnover, and controlling a draw.
 - Brittany Hathaway recorded four assists, controlled two draws, and caused a pair of turnovers.
 - Julia Brewer caused a pair of turnovers and scooped up two ground balls.
 - Morgan Ernst picked up a team-high four ground balls.
 - Eck controlled four draws and picked up four ground balls, while holding Widener's leading scorer, Kelly Lynch, to just one goal.
 - Julia Gabriel scored a goal and added an assist while controlling a game-high six draws.
 - Hannah Oliveras made 12 saves in net to earn her third win of the season.
 - The Pride were led by Caroline Kelley who scored five goals.
 - LVC led in total shots (34-32) and shots on goal (26-24).
 - The Dutchmen went 15-for-19 in clears, while the Pride were 17-for-23.
 - LVC led in total ground balls at 19-14 and draw controls at 16-12.
 
Who's Next?
LVC continues MAC Commonwealth action on Saturday, March 30th, when the Dutchmen welcome Stevenson to Arnold Field for a 1 p.m. game. Before the contest, LVC will honor its six seniors on Senior Day.
 
Stay Connected
Be sure to follow @lvcathletics on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for the most in-depth coverage of LVC athletics.