Memphis, TENN. (April 23, 2023) -- The Rhodes Lynx cruised their way through another dominant SAA performance, outpacing the #5 Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels 23-5 in the semifinal matchup. The win moves Rhodes to 13-5 on the season heading into the SAA Championship game.
Rhodes kicked off the game with the first draw control but it was Oglethorpe who struck first with Sydney Trammell finding the cage first for the early 1-0 advantage. This is the only time Oglethorpe would have the lead on Rhodes the entire game. Roughly a minute later,
Emily Bruner found
Carina Wesker for the first Rhodes goal of the game to kickoff a 9-0 scoring run. Oglethorpe struggled against the swarming Rhodes defense, turning the ball over 13 times and going 0-5 in clears leading the additional scoring opportunities for the Lynx. Seven different Lynx scored in the first quarter alone with
Chloe Parker leading with three goals. Trammell scored again to end the first quarter.
Oglethorpe started the second quarter with a woman-up opportunity after a Rhodes penalty but couldn't convert against the stifling defense. Oglethorpe received a yellow card shortly into the second quarter and Wesker found Parker for a woman-up goal, bringing the score to 10-2.
Avery Burke continued the momentum for the Lynx scoring back-to-back goals. Wesker,
Sierra Anderson and
Caroline Kardian each tallied a goal towards the end of the second quarter. Oglethorpe's Savannah Freeman snuck one past
Emma Bradley on a free-position shot to bring the score 15-3 at the half.
It was all Rhodes in the second half. Oglethorpe's Ally Moir found Savannah Freeman to add a goal to the board but it would be the only Stormy Petrel tally of the quarter. Kardian tallied her hat trick goal off a Burke assist before Bruner notched her sole goal of the game. Wesker tallied two more goals before Burke closed out the quarter, bringing the lead to 20-4. Rhodes let off the gas in the fourth quarter but still outscored Oglethorpe 3-1. Oglethorpe's Kendall White scored the lone goal while Wesker, Kardian and Anderson each tallied one more.
The Lynx outhustled the Stormy Petrels in almost every category. While the Stormy Petrels edged out the Lynx 16-15 on draw controls, the relentless Rhodes defense caused 17 of Oglethorpe's 28 turnovers. Rhodes outshot Oglethorpe 51-16, won the groundball battle 31-8 and limited Oglethorpe to a 32% success rate on clears (6-19).
Emily Bruner dished out eight assists on the day, marking the sixth time this season she's recorded at least eight helpers. Eight different Lynx scored a goal in this one, with
Carina Wesker's five leading the way.
Caroline Kardian,
Chloe Parker and
Avery Burke each tallied four a piece while
Sierra Anderson added a hat trick and
Sophia Horowitz,
Anna Erskine and Bruner each notched one.
In addition to leading goal scorers, Wesker led the team in caused turnovers with five.
Bari Pinkett picked up 4 groundballs and caused 3 turnovers to set a new program single-season record with 53 groundballs and 32 caused turnovers.
Emma Norris scooped up a team-high five groundballs in addition to two caused turnovers.
Emma Bradley added seven saves on the day while
Olivia Wood added one in the final stretch of the game.
Rhodes will take on #2 Berry College for the SAA Championship on Sunday, April 30th at Mason Field. In the teams' previous matchup this season, Rhodes was victorious 20-9.
