ATLANTA, Ga. (April 8, 2023) — Despite a near hour-long weather delay, it couldn't fully rain on the Rhodes parade as the Lynx cruised to a 20-5 victory over the Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels. With the win, Rhodes remains undefeated in SAA play at 4-0 and move to 9-5 on the season.
Carina Wesker opened up the game with back-to-back draw controls, giving Rhodes consecutive offensive possessions where Wesker and Avery Burke both found the back of the net within the first 30 seconds. Rhodes held Oglethorpe scoreless off an early woman-up opportunity in the first quarter before Caroline Kardian notched two straight goals. Wesker found Emily Bruner for her first goal to extend the Lynx lead 5-0. Oglethorpe added a tally to the board off a Sydney Trammel woman-up opportunity. Rhodes rallied back with two more goals from Wesker to end the quarter leading 7-1.
The torrential downpour on the day continued and the second quarter opened up with back and forth play with neither team able to score. Bruner ended the scoring drought 7 minutes into the quarter off an assist from Bari Pinkett. Ally Moir and the Stormy Petrels responded with a woman-up free-position goal. On the next possession, Burke pulled in the next draw control and went straight to goal, answering for the Lynx and bringing the score to 8-2. Burke and Kardian added a combined three goals before the Stormy Petrels scored again in the final seconds of the half.
Despite starting the third quarter serving a yellow card penalty, the Petrels scored first with Trammel adding her second of the day. Kardian answered back with the next draw control and goal. Sierra Anderson then had a hand in the Lynx 3-0 scoring run, scoring twice and dishing it out to Anna Erskine. The Petrels ended the quarter down 16-5 after Moir scored her second of the day.
The goals and the rain kept pouring in for the Lynx in the final quarter as Rhodes outscored Oglethorpe 4-0 in the final 15 minutes. Burke scored twice, Erskine added another for the day and first-year Alex Johnson netted her first collegiate goal.
Emma Bradley notched 6 saves on the afternoon while Olivia Wood added 5 saves in the final quarter to ensure a fourth quarter shutout.
The Lynx had seven different goalscorers on the day. Avery Burke led all with six goals and one assist. Caroline Kardian added five points (4G, 1A) to pair with her season-high 13 draw controls. Carina Wesker tallied three goals and three assists while Emily Bruner, Anna Erskine and Sierra Anderson each notched two goals a piece. Molly Martiner recorded a career-high seven assists on the day.
Rhodes returns to play on Tuesday evening when they travel to Hendrix College to take on the Warriors at 6 p.m. CST.
