GREENSBORO, NC – The Greensboro College women's lacrosse team (6-2) returned home on Tuesday afternoon to take on Centre College (2-7). The Pride jumped out to a big lead early, but Amira Khatib put Greensboro on top by two goals late to secure a, 16-15, victory.
Center and the Pride exchanged the first two goals of the game until Greensboro pulled out in front, 4-1, following three unanswered goals with just over twenty-five minutes to play in the opening half. Devan Macheras tallied the first goal of the run before Khatib netted the final two goals.
Later in the period with Greensboro leading, 5-3, the Pride went on another three goal run to extend their margin to five goals at 8-3. This time it was Kirstin Norris who found the back two times while Ashlynn Parksscored on a free position goal.
As time wound down in the opening half, Natalie Ritchey scored for the first time in the contest with Norris finding the nylon two more times as Greensboro went into the intermission period with a 11-6 lead.
However, Centre was able to climb back into the game in the second half of play.
At the midway point in the second half of play, Ritchey had found beat the Centre keeper two more times but Centre was able to pull within three goals at 13-10.
Following the Centre goal with fifteen minutes showing on the second half clock, Ritchey scored her final two goals of the contest, making the score 15-12, before Centre pulled to within one goal at 15-14 with just over three minutes to play.
As the clock went below 1:30, Pride goalkeeper Kaleigh Hemstock made a great off hand save on Centre's Ellen Resinger to give Greensboro possession.
The Pride was then able to kill some time off the clock setting up Khatib's decisive goal with twenty-seven seconds to play. Centre was able to score one final goal in the contest but it was not enough as the Pride prevailed 16-15.
"Our girls were able to come out of the gate fast to take an early lead," Pride Interim Head Coach Christie Hebert said following the game. "Over the course of the second half we faced some adversity but did not give up the lead which I am real proud of."
Greensboro and Centre each recorded 31 shots in the game while the Pride had a narrow, 17-16, advantage in the draw control category.
Kirstin Norris and Natalie Ritchey each recorded five goals in the contest while Amira Khatib contributed three of her own. Ashlynn Parks led the Pride in forced turnovers with four while also picking up a team high four groundballs.
Junior goalkeeper Kaleigh Hemstock finished the day with twelve saves in route to her seventh win in goal on the season.
Greensboro will return to the field tomorrow afternoon when they travel to Fayetteville, North Carolina to take on the Monarchs of Methodist University in a USA South Athletic Conference showdown. The game is set to get underway at 5:00 PM. For the latest on the Pride women's lacrosse team, continue to followwww.greensborocollegesports.com.
