By: Jake Miller
HARTSVILLE, S.C.- Coker women's lacrosse fell in a tight 11-9 non-conference tilt with visiting East Stroudsburg on Tuesday (Mar. 14).
Haley McCusker got the scoring started less than two minutes into the game, before ESU would respond with two consecutive goals to take a 3-1 lead eight minutes in. Faith Kent's hot hands would dish out assists to Claudia Jenkins and McCusker to knot the game at three 10 and a half minutes in. After a Warriors goal, Kent herself would again tie the game at four on a free position attempt. Coker would score two more times, once from McCusker and once from Kent to take a 6-4 lead to the half.
East Stroudsburg would come out in the second half , scoring five unanswered goals to take a 9-6 lead with 10 and a half minutes to play. Marabeth Durden cooled off the Warriors offense with a goal of her own to get Coker within 9-7. Haley McCusker's free position goal with 5:41 left got Coker within one, before ESU would take a two-goal lead with 2:04 remaining. The Cobras were able to take advantage of an ESU penalty when Jenkins caught a pass from McCusker and stashed it home with just 1:26 remaining. The Warriors scored once in the final minute to re-gain their two-goal lead and seal the victory.
McCusker led Coker's scoring effort with four goals, while Kent and Jenkins each scored twice. Kent also dished out a team-high three assists. Durden also recorded one goal in the contest. McCusker recorded her 100th career goal in Coker Navy and Gold, while Kent tallied her 100th Coker career point in the contest. Coker won the draw control battle 12-10, with Mackenzie Baker collecting a team-high five and Lindsay Ordemann grabbing four. Coker scooped up 17 ground balls on the day, with Durden and Kaitlyn Kimball each picking up three. Cassie Williams (5-2) made 15 saves in the cage.
The Cobras (5-2, 2-0 SAC) resume South Atlantic Conference play when they take on Newberry this Saturday (Mar. 18). Opening draw is set for 6:00 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.
McDonald's Player of the Game- Haley McCusker