Women’s lacrosse team ends home schedule with 18-7 loss to Pacific

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College women's lacrosse team closed out the home portion of its schedule with an 18-7 loss to Pacific (Ore.) University today at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet.

Pacific raced out to a 6-0 lead in the first six minutes and 39 seconds of the game. The Comets responded with back-to-back goals by sophomores Geri Merrell and Taylor Guarnaccia to trim their deficit to 6-2 with 12:22 left in the opening half. The Boxers scored the final six goals of the half to take a 12-2 lead at the break.

Olivet netted three of the first four goals of the second half to make the score 13-5. Merrell along with sophomores Mimi Garza and Kaylee Liddle each had a goal during the scoring run. Pacific answered with two goals in a span of just over a minute to regain the 10-goal margin at 15-5.

After Liddle added a free-position goal, the Boxers scored three consecutive goals to take an 18-6 lead. Merrell scored with 12 seconds left for the final 18-7 score.

The Comets finished the game with 15 shots, placing 11 on-goal. Guarnaccia topped the team with five shots, while Liddle and Merrell each had four. Olivet did a great job on the draws, winning 19-of-27 opportunities. Freshman Ana Gomez won nine draws. Sophomore Sarah Shaw collected 10 saves in goal.

Olivet now turns attention to its final two Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) contests later this week. The Comets travel to play Trine (Ind.) University Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m., and then play at Calvin College Saturday at 1 p.m.