DANVILLE, Ky. – The Rhodes field hockey team picked up a big Southern Athletic Association win over conference leading Centre College on Sunday, 3-2.
 
The win advances the Lynx to 13-3 to finish out the regular season and 7-1 in league play while the Colonels fall to 13-7 on the year and pick up their first conference loss at 7-1.
 
With the conference season on the line, the Lynx went straight to work, netting the first goal just nine minutes in when Corrinne Palmer found the back of the cage to take the early 1-0 lead. The Colonels refused to go quietly, when in the 15th minute Julie Gates knotted the score at 1-1.
 
Evy Royther had the Rhodes answer just 45 seconds later, when she snuck a shot by the Centre net minder to take the 2-1 lead. But in the 33rd minute, Gates again worked a shot into the cage, evening the score at 2-2. The tied score would hold through to the end of the half.
 
In the second half it didn't take long for the Lynx to find the back of the cage again, this time off the stick of Royther in the 55th minute. The Lynx defense held strong, taking home the 3-2 victory.
 
Erin Bailey got the start in the cage, playing 35 minutes for the Lynx, grabbing eight saves. Laura Eckelkamp played 35 minutes of second half action, snagging eight saves and the win in the shutout second half.
 
Centre edged the Lynx in shots, by a count of 29-14, with Rhodes trailing in penalty corners as well, by a margin of 12-6.
 
Rhodes will look forward to the start of the SAA tournament on Nov. 7, which will be hosted by the regular season conference champions.