GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Davenport women's lacrosse team hosted Siena Heights in the regular season finale for both teams. On senior day for the Panthers, Davenport was able to hold off the Saints in the second half to win, 12-8. Jessica Lemcke led the way for Davenport with five goals in the game as DU concludes their regular season slate with a 12-3 overall record and a WHAC record of 9-1. Davenport will now wait to see if they will face Siena Heights or Aquinas in the semifinals of the WHAC tournament beginning on Friday at the DU Turf Field.
 
In the final regular season game of the year, Lemcke led the offensive attack for the Panthers with five goals in the game, while Sara Kuzava and Tara Pluger chipped in with three goals apiece. Taylor Balch closed out the scoring for Davenport with one goal and led the team with a pair of assists.
 
Siena Heights struck first as they took an early 1-0 lead with 25:55 left to play in the first half, but Davenport came storming back as they scored the next four goals to take a 4-1 lead with 11:43 left in the first. The Saints finally stopped the Panthers run just 30 second later, but Davenport was able to fire back with three more goals to a 7-2 lead.
 
The Saints started to chip into the Davenport lead as they scored three unanswered goals in a one minute span as they cut the Panther lead to 7-5 with 1:36 left to play in the first half. However, Jessica Lemcke was able to score her fourth goal of the game with 25 seconds left in the first half as DU led 8-5 after the first half.
 
The back-and-forth battle continued in the second half, as neither team could take over in the game. Siena Heights opened the scoring in the second half just 3:13 into the half. After the Saints cut the lead to two goals, each team alternated goals through most of the second half as Davenport led 10-8 with 4:46 left in regulation after a goal by the Saints. The Panthers were able to create some separation down the stretch as they scored the final two goals of the game to beat the Saints, 12-8.
 
Davenport will now head into the postseason, where they will face either Siena Heights or Aquinas in one of two semifinal matchups on Friday on the DU Turf Field.
 
Women's Lacrosse Contact: David Gerhart | 616-554-5045 | dgerhart@davenport.edu
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