Cobras Book Trip to SAC Semifinals with 12-10 Upset of No. 3 Pioneers

GREENVILLE, TENN. – The Coker women's lacrosse team knocked off the No. 3 seeded Tusculum College Pioneers, 12-10, in the quarterfinals of the SAC Women's Lacrosse Championship on Tuesday (Apr. 14) evening. Coker improves to 9-7 on the season and is moves its winning streak to three games.

The Cobras would jump out to an early 1-0 lead in the opening minutes of the game, but the Pioneers would answer with two goals to take a 2-1 lead with 26:45 reminding in the first half. The Navy and Yellow would mount a 4-0 run led by All-SAC selection Mackenzie Baker and Lindsay Ordemann to take a 5-2 lead. Coker would hold a 9-5 lead heading into the break.

The second half would be intense, as the Cobras only managed three goals while giving up five. However, goalie Kaitlyn Vela would come up big in the second half, notching five of her game-high 12 saves in the final 15 minutes of play to preserve a 12-10 Coker win.

Baker led the way for the Navy and Yellow with five goals, while the All-SAC duo of Danielle Holcomb and Claudia Jenkins along with Ordemann scored two goals apiece. All-SAC defender Marabeth Durden netted one goal and dished out an assist in the win. Shannon Jessop, Ashlyn Burgett and Haley McCusker each tallied one assist.

The Cobras will be back in action on Friday (Apr. 17) when they take on the No. 2 seeded Lenoir-Rhyne Bears in the semifinals of the SAC Women's Lacrosse Championship. The game is slated for a 6:30 p.m. start at Queens University of Charlotte.