DANVILLE, Ky. - In game one of two in Kentucky over Spring Break, the Firebirds women's lacrosse team edged out Centre College to move its win streak to five. Carthage Firebirds' senior goalkeeper Alessandra Almendarez recorded a season-high 16 saves tonight, pushing her past 300 career saves. 



 

• Final score: Carthage 13, Centre 11. 
• Location: South Campus Field - Danville, Kentucky. 
• Records: Carthage 5-1, Calvin 3-4. 

 

• The Colonels got out to a solid start against the Firebirds, leading 3-1 at the 11:36 mark of the opening period. Harris (second goal of the period) and LeFevre each converted to close the period, evening the score at three apiece. 
• Carthage dominated the second period, scoring eight goals to Centre's zero in quick succession. Carthage went on a 10-0 run between the end of the first period through the completion of the second to take the sizable advantage - with the Firebirds up 11-3 at the conclusion of the first half. 
• Four different Firebirds scored in the second period as Carthage's ball and player movement opened up opportunities for a number of offensive players. 
• Centre flipped the script in the third period, allowing only one Firebird goal while finding the back of the net six times. Carthage's lone goal in the period came from the stick of Elizabeth Oda at the 8:08 mark. The Colonels shrunk what was once an eight-goal advantage into a three-goal lead for Carthage, trailing by three (9-12) leading into a crucial fourth quarter . 
• It took over ten minutes for either team to convert in the fourth period as both defenses tightened up. Carthage struck first to push its lead to four as Rachel Harris scored her sixth goal of the night at the 3:47 mark. Centre was able to threaten the lead once more, scoring twice in the final two minutes to chisel its deficit to two, but time ran out and the Firebirds pulled out a key road win. 
• Despite grabbing the win, the Firebirds picked up 15 fewer ground balls than Centre. 

 

• Senior Rachel Harris was sensational in the road victory, scoring six goals on 12 shots. Harris also caused a team-high four turnovers and was second on the team in draw controls (six). 
• Three freshmen found the back of the net for Carthage tonight, as LeFevre (three), Nolan (two), and Heitschmidt (one) each converted. LeFevre led the team in draw controls with seven, while Nolan (three) and Heitschmidt (two) each picked up multiple ground balls. 
• Alessandra Almendarez, particularly in the first half, was lockdown in goal for Carthage. The senior saved a season-high 16 shots in the win - pushing her past 300 career saves. 

"Really excited about the way [Almendarez] played in net tonight - 16 saves really got us into it, kinda fighting through the injury bug a little bit" remarked Carthage head women's lacrosse coach John Sung.

"The team was really resilient again. Kailey [Wagner] with her first college start did a really good job, helping us in our transition defense and getting our zone put together."

"We have one more game for Spring Break, so we're really excited to just keep growing and making sure our kids keep getting better. Hopefully we can keep improving and get everyone healthy and we look forward to coming home to Kenosha with another win."



 

• Coach Sung's team will play one more game in Kentucky, this time heading to Lexington for a date with Transylvania on Saturday, March 18 at 11 a.m.