WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic women's lacrosse team opened their Spring Break with the first of three home matches this week. The Sailfish hosted the Trojans of Anderson University this afternoon inside the PBA Lacrosse Field. PBA bested the Trojans after a late free position goal from Megan Jackson awarded the 'Fish the lead, closed out by Rachel Delate for a 14-12 victory.
A competitive first quarter saw Anderson striking first on offense, marking the first shot of the game. Within the first four minutes of play, Annika Limpert one-hopped the ball into the cage for an early 1-0 Sailfish advantage. Within thirty seconds, Limpert struck again on a pass from Bella Marchiano from the top of the crease to give PBA a 2-0 lead. The Trojans worked quickly and evened the playing field at 2-2, but not before Delate passed the ball from behind the cage to Hunter Levinson. Levinson bounced the ball into the back of the cage past the Trojans goalie for a 3-2 lead. Anderson quickly evened the playing field once again but Delate received a pass from Levinson from behind the cage to jump ahead once again, 4-3. With two minutes remaining in the first period, the Trojans held a 5-4 lead over PBA until a free position attempt saw Jackson score the Sailfish fifth goal to end the quarter tied at 5-5.
An evenly contested second quarter saw both times at a standstill until Anderson jumped ahead in the sixth minute of play. The 'Fish responded quickly, seeing Delate with three men on her before she brought the ball around the right side of the crease to score the equalizer. AU was resilient and netted their seventh goal of the match in the 13th minute of play. In the final thirty seconds of the first half, Mia Vanalstyne charged the cage from the top of the crease to even the playing field at 7-7. With ten seconds remaining, Delate netted her third goal of the match on a free position attempt to give PBA an 8-7 lead at the half.
The Sailfish opened the third quarter with Delate scoring her fourth goal of the match on her second free position attempt, elevating their lead to 9-7. PBA continued to hold down the offensive side of the field, seeing Arianna Tribble shoot from outside the crease to jump their lead to 10-7. Anderson was persistent in working to cut the deficit, outshooting the Sailfish nine to seven during the third quarter. The Trojans netted three goals during the quarter to once again even the match at 10-10.
With a clean slate and an even playing field, both teams were aggressive from the start of the fourth quarter. The Trojans took the lead first before Delate passed the ball to Olivia Larges and netted the equalizer. Both teams went back and forth, seeing Delate score on a free position to even the playing field at 12 all once again. With two minutes of play remaining, a foul from the Trojans set PBA for a free position and Jackson scored the free position goal and game winner. With a 13-12 lead, Delate cut through the middle of the crease and Larges assisted her to secure the 14-12 victory over the Trojans.
Palm Beach Atlantic University will be back in action tomorrow afternoon Wednesday, March 11 at 1:00 p.m. (EST) against UVA Wise. The Sailfish will host inside the PBA Lacrosse Field.
