GREENVILLE, S.C. – Davenport cruised past Ave Maria and advanced to the NAIA National Semifinals for the second consecutive season. The Panthers held the opposing Gyrenes to only nine goals in 60 minutes of play. Davenport keeps the opportunity alive for winning back-to-back NAIA National Championships. The panthers will face conference foe Lawrence Tech in the semifinals to earn a chance to play in the national championship game.
 
THE BASICS
Final Score: #2 Davenport-15 | # 7 Ave Maria-9
Location: Greenville, S.C.
Record: Davenport 15-2 | Ave Maria 7-7
 
GOALS PER PERIOD
First period: DU-7 | AM-6
Second period: DU-8 | AM-3
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (Courtesy of Tommy Chasanoff, NAIA Lacrosse National Invitational Media Coordinator)
Davenport got on the board first, netting a pair of goals to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead 1:03 into the game. Ave Maria responded as Katelyn Sherman and Mackenzie Tourville each convert a goal to tie the game 2-2. The Panthers scored three unanswered goals; including two from Jessica Lemcke to take a 5-2 lead with 19:22 left in the first half. The two teams traded goals before the Gyrenes score twice to cut the deficit to 6-5. Both teams converted a free position shot in the final minutes of the half to give Davenport a 7-6 lead at the break.
 
The second half began much like the first with Brooke Knoll scoring a pair of goals to extend the Panthers lead to 9-6. The two teams traded goals before Tourville found Georgia Miller cutting towards the cage for a goal to make it 10-8 with 18:29 left. Davenport scored five of the final six goals for the 15-9 final.
 
INSIDE THE BOX
Ryann Deuel (3 GB, 2 CT, 5 DC)
Lemcke (7 G, A, 8 P, 3 GB, CT, DC)
Knoll (3 G, 3 P, GB)
Amber Livingston (3 GB, CT, 3 DC)
Taylor Ries (4 G, 4 P, 2 GB, DC)
Samantha Powers (60:00 minutes, 9 GA, 8 saves)

 

Up Next
Davenport will face Lawrence Tech in the Semifinals. The game is slated to start at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. The teams are 1-1 vs. each other this season and each won their game on the road.
 
Story by: Devin Steiner
 
Photo Credit: Kara Stevenson