The Furman women’s lacrosse team defeated Gardner-Webb 13-9 in its regular season finale on April 25, closing out Big South Conference play at Spangler Stadium.
This win brings Furman’s overall record to 9-8 and a conference record of 5-3. Gardner-Webb drops to a season total of two wins and fifteen losses, with a conference record of 2-6.
Allie Kandel led the Paladins with four goals, while Lily Toole added three goals and one assist. Kandel also contributed four draw controls and two ground balls. Toole had one ground ball and caused one turnover. Reynolds Hester and Emily Muir each recorded two goals and an assist for Furman. Cassie Larsen collected a career-best five ground balls, Zoe Milmoe caused three turnovers, and Skylar Hilmer won five draws. Goalkeeper Sailor Henderson made a career-high eleven saves along with four ground balls and one caused turnover.
For Gardner-Webb, Maddie Tredway scored three goals, Emma Duchscherer added two more, and goalkeeper Emma Anderson tallied thirteen saves as well as one ground ball and one caused turnover.
Kandel scored three times in the first half as Furman built a seven-to-two lead by halftime. The Paladins started strong by scoring four of the game’s first five goals before Gardner-Webb narrowed the gap midway through the second quarter. Furman then closed out the half on a three-goal run to extend their advantage.
Gardner-Webb outscored Furman in the third quarter but could not overcome the deficit as Furman responded early in the fourth quarter with another run that secured their lead for good. The Paladins finished ahead in shots (33-24), ground balls (19-11), caused turnovers (10-8), draws (14-10), and forced fifteen turnovers from their opponents.
The Big South Women’s Lacrosse Championship will begin on April 28 at higher-seeded schools, with semifinals set for May 1 and finals on May 3 at the site of the league’s top seed.
