By: Jake Miller
BREVARD, N.C.- The Coker women's lacrosse team used a powerful goal-scoring run to defeat Brevard 18-4 in South Atlantic Conference action on Saturday (Mar. 11).
Brevard scored the first goal of the contest just over five minutes in, before Coker would start a run that would put them in control of the game for good. Haley McCusker scored under a minute later to tie the game, which ignited the Coker offense. Eight goals over the span of 16 minutes and change would put Coker up 9-1 and put the visitors in charge for the remainder of the game.
Mackenzie Baker scored at 5:57, while Marabeth Durden found the back of the net at 9:31 of the first half. McCusker and Baker would go back-to-back about three minutes apart, before Katie Driskell and Faith Kent would torch the twine just 27 seconds apart. McCusker and Durden would score the last two goals of the 9-1 run about two minutes apart. After the second Tornados goal of the game, another goal from Kent and three in a row from McCusker would put the Navy and Gold up 13-2 at half.
Claudia Jenkins got in on the scoring less than three minutes into the second half, followed up by goals from McCusker and Kent. Jesse Sternberg notched her first goal of the season, while Durden scored Coker's 18th goal in the dying seconds.
McCusker registered a game-high seven goals, while Durden and Kent each recorded hat tricks in the win. Baker found the back of the net twice, while Driskell and Sternberg each scored once. Defensively, the Cobras won the draw controls 15-7, with Durden collecting a team-high five. The Cobras also controlled the ground ball battle 24-14, with Durden scooping up a team-high five. Driskell, McCusker and Kaitlyn Kimball each picked up three ground balls in the contest. Cassie Williams (5-1) stonewalled six shots in the win.
The Cobras (5-1, 2-0 SAC) come back home to host the East Stroudsburg Warriors on Tuesday (Mar. 14) in non-conference action. Opening draw is set for 12:00 p.m. at the Coker College athletic field. Tickets for the game are $5 for adults, $3 for students and free to all Coker faculty, staff and students.