LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Spalding women's lacrosse hosted Bethany College on Friday. SU grabbed their first win of the season, 12-10.
SU moved to 1-5 on the season, while the Bison fell to 1-5.
TURNING POINT
The first half of Friday's matchup between Spalding University and Bethany College was a tightly contested battle, with both teams demonstrating their offensive prowess and defensive resilience. Spalding struck first, capitalizing on an early scoring opportunity to take a 1-0 lead. However, Bethany quickly responded, equalizing within minutes as both teams settled into an aggressive pace. The remainder of the first quarter saw rapid transitions and strong defensive stands, but Spalding managed to break through twice more, ending the quarter with a narrow 3-2 advantage.
As the second quarter began, Bethany came out with renewed energy, controlling possession and briefly netting back-to-back goals to take a 4-3 lead. Spalding answered with a strong counterattack, scoring twice quickly to reclaim the lead at 5-4. Both teams fought fiercely for ground balls and draw controls, making every possession a battle. Late in the quarter, Bethany found the back of the net once more. Still, Spalding responded immediately with a well-executed offensive play to hold onto a 6-5 lead going into halftime. The first half was defined by momentum swings, disciplined defensive efforts, and high-tempo play, setting the stage for an exciting finish.
The second half of the game saw Spalding come out with renewed urgency, looking to extend their narrow 6-5 halftime lead. Right from the start of the third quarter, they dominated possession and put Bethany's defense under heavy pressure. Their aggressive offensive strategy paid off, as they netted three quick goals within the first five minutes, widening the gap to 9-5. Bethany struggled to regain momentum as Spalding's defense tightened, forcing multiple turnovers and limiting their scoring opportunities. Midway through the quarter, Bethany managed to break through with a goal, but Spalding responded almost immediately, tacking on two more goals before the end of the period. By the time the third quarter ended, Spalding had taken firm control of the game with an 11-6 advantage.
Bethany, however, refused to go down without a fight. In the fourth quarter, they ramped up their offensive efforts, winning key draw controls and finding openings in Spalding's defense. They struck first in the final period, cutting the deficit to 11-7, and continued to apply pressure, scoring two more quick goals to make it an 11-9 game with just under five minutes to play. Sensing the momentum shifting, Spalding called a timeout to regroup. The break proved effective, as they slowed the game down and controlled possession to disrupt Bethany's rhythm. With two minutes left, Spalding delivered a crucial goal to extend their lead to 12-9, effectively sealing the game. Bethany scored again in the closing seconds, but it wasn't enough to complete the comeback. Spalding secured a hard-fought 12-10 victory as the final whistle blew, marking their first win of the season.
GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES
NEXT FOR SPALDING
The Golden Eagles will travel to Trine University on Monday, March 17th. The first draw-control will take place at 4 pm.
