GREENSBORO, N.C. – In their first Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) contest of the new season, the Guilford College women's lacrosse team fell to Virginia Wesleyan University, 14-7, on Saturday afternoon at Appenzeller Field.

With the loss, GC drops to 3-4 on the season and 0-1 against ODAC opponents. The Marlins see themselves improve to 3-5, 1-0 against conference competition.

Zenna Carson (Blacksburg, Va.) started in goal for the Quakers, stopping half of the opposition's 28 shots on goal, falling to 3-4 in net. Brittneyann Hoover advanced to 3-5 in goal for the VWU after making five saves against seven goals allowed.

Maggie Hartnett (Hebron, Maine) had two goals and two assists with three groundballs and two caused turnovers in the defeat. Riley Gravley (Greensboro, N.C.) added a trio of goals with four groundballs. Madison Pfister and Helen Kennedy-Butler led the visitors, as they each had four goals and an assist. Michaela Elston added a pair of goals and three helpers.

This one would take some time before the offenses would find their groove, as nearly ten minutes of game time transpired before Virginia Wesleyan broke the ice. At the 5:27 mark, Pfister did the deed, driving in from 20 yards out, firing a shot into the top corner for the score. Guilford finally broke through with 2:22 remaining in the stanza, taking advantage on a free position look with Hartnett going directly to the net for her 18^th score of the campaign. Harnett would put the Quakers in front just before the break, making a great move with a shot fake, fooling two defenders and getting the space to find paydirt, putting GC in front 2-1 after one.

Hartnett was once again involved in the first goal of the second quarter, finding the cutting Gravley who found the back of the net on the weak side. Kylie Wood (Greensboro, N.C.) tacked on another with a free position goal with 7:41 remaining before the Marlins struck back. Within a span of 60 seconds, Maya Perry, Pfister, and Shaunice Rone all scored, suddenly bringing the score even at four. VWU took the lead momentarily when Daphne Myers scored with 3:03 left but Gravley countered with her second goal of the contest, this one on a free position shot. The guests would have a shot clang off the post as time expired in the first half, keeping things at five-all at the break.

VWU pulled away in the second half with Pfister then Kennedy-Butler scoring within 60 seconds of each other and Gabriella Watton adding another later on. Gravely got one back for Guilford, but the Marlins were in front 8-6 heading into the final frame in which they dominated. The guests pilled up five unanswered across the first half of the final stanza. GC finally halted the run when Hartnett found Maggie Bryson (Kernersville, N.C.) with a tick under four minutes to play. The momentum was short-lived with Pfister striking less than 30 seconds later, bringing the final score to 14-7.

Guilford makes the short trip across town to battle Greensboro College on Wednesday night battling the Pride beginning at 4:00 PM.

#GoQuakes