DEFIANCE, Ohio-- The Trine women's lacrosse team earned its second-consecutive victory with an 8-7 win over Defiance in non-conference action Saturday evening at Coressel Stadium.
Freshman Nikkolette Makaryk (Joliet, Ill./Minooka) scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal with 5:22 remaining to give the Thunder the winning margin in the tight game. The goal was the first of Makaryk's collegiate career. Neither team led by more than two goals at any point during the contest. Taylor Gast (Akron, Ind./Tippecanoe Valley) scored four goals to lead the attack. The Thunder outshot the Yellow Jackets by a 24-18 margin. Trine improved to 2-1 on the season. Defiance falls to 0-4.
Rebecca Plantz (DeWitt, Mich./DeWitt) added two goals for her second-consecutive two-goal effort. Megan Russ (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg) added her first goal of the season, while Grace Garrett (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) made seven saves to earn the victory in net.
Katelin Patchin and Ashlyn Simion each scored three goals to lead Defiance. Simion added five ground balls and three draw controls. The Yellow Jackets controlled the ball off the draw for much of the game, earning 12-of-17 draw controls. Catherine Bledsoe made seven saves in goal for DC.
Gast scored three of the game's first four goals as Trine opened a 3-1 lead over the first half of the opening period. Patchin scored back-to-back goals to tie the score, before Plantz notched her first goal of the game to give the Thunder the lead again. Two goals by Simion gave DC a 5-4 lead entering the half.
Goals by Russ and Gast restored the lead for the Thunder, but Defiance scored the next two on goals by Simion and Jessica Meir to take the lead right back. Plantz tied the score at 7-7 with 8:08 to play.
That set the stage for Makaryk, whose first career collegiate goal could not have come at a bigger time. The freshman's goal with 5:22 remaining gave the Thunder the 8-7 victory.
Trine returns to action next Saturday, Mar. 21 when they travel to Lindenwood-Belleville for a 5 p.m. contest.