VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia - The Virginia Wesleyan University women's lacrosse team fell to Mariners from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 18-8 in a rematch of the 2020 season finale on Wednesday evening at Birdsong Field in Virginia Beach, VA.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 18 - Virginia Wesleyan 8
Records: Virginia Wesleyan 2-4 | U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 2-1
Location: Birdsong Field | Virginia Beach, VA

GAME RECAP
The Merchant Marines got off to the early start scoring five goals before Virginia Wesleyan found their first goal off the stick of Helen Kennedy-Butler. USMMA added one more goal in the first quarter taking a 6-1 lead into the second.

The Marlins scored two goals early in the second quarter that sandwiched a Mariner goal. Kennedy-Butler scored the opening goal with Natalie Dunn scoring VWU's third goal of the game. USMMA added four more goals with Kennedy-Butler adding one more with the teams heading into the break with the score sitting at 11-4.

The Mariners kept the Marlins off the scoreboard in the third quarter while adding six of their own taking a 17-4 lead into the final quarter. 

VWU added four more goals to the board in the fourth while USMMA tacked on one more putting the final score at 18-8. Camryn Gavula, Mikayla Callahan, and Sophia Bourassa scored the first three goals while Dunn scored the final goal off a free-position shot. 

KEY STATS

• Helen Kennedy-Butler tallied three goals to lead the Marlins.
• Natalie Dunn added a pair of goals. 
• Mikayla Callahan, Camryn Gavula, and Sophia Bourassa each added one goal apiece. 
• Dunn led the team with six draw controls while Michaela Elston tallied four ground balls.
• Kirsten Ivory (L: 1-2) played all 60 minutes in goal giving up 18 goals while making 13 saves.

UP NEXT
The women's lacrosse team is back in action on Monday, March 21, when they host the Goucher College. The Gophers and Marlins will meet at 5 PM for first draw at Birdsong Field.