BETHANY, W.Va. - The Bethany College women's lacrosse team hosted Senior Day where they defeated Allegheny (Pa.) College by a final score of 15-9 in a Presidents' Athletic Conference game to secure the first PAC Tournament berth in program history on Don Ault Field at Bison Stadium.
Prior to the game, Bethany honored seniors
Jada Carter (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom),
Alena Arbogast (Morgantown, W.Va./University),
Lexie Reid (Louisville, Ky./Ballard),
Gabby Hicks (Chinchilla, Australia),
Janez Matthews (Annapolis, Md.),
Catharina Recabeitia (Buenos Aires, Argentina/Escuela Normal Superior-Vicente Fatone),
Grace Schweickert (Hiram, Ohio/Crestwood),
Emily Wenger (New Cumberland, Pa./Cedar Cliff), and
Madison Wagoner (Morgantown, W.Va./University). In perhaps the biggest game in Bison women's lacrosse history, the Green and White needed to defeat Allegheny by two goals or more to make the program's first postseason appearance. The two teams traded punches throughout the first half with Bethany taking a one-point lead into the intermission. However, six straight Bison goals in the game's final 20 minutes flipped the momentum as the Bethany seniors earned one last win at Bison Stadium while the team celebrated the milestone win with the packed home crowd. Bethany earns the fifth seed and will now take on fourth-seeded Westminster (Pa.) College in the first round and finishes the regular season with a record of 8-8 and a 4-5 record in the PAC. Allegheny concludes their season with a record of 5-9-1 and a 4-5 record in the PAC.
Bethany Leaders
- Senior All-PAC defender Emily Wenger (New Cumberland, Pa./Cedar Cliff) ended her home career with a bang after scoring a game-high six goals with two assists and four draw controls as well as leading the Bison defense with four caused turnovers and six ground balls
- Senior defender Janez Matthews (Annapolis, Md.) scored two goals and one assist to go with three draw controls and one caused turnover with her family in attendance
- Senior Academic All-PAC midfielder Lexie Reid (Louisville, Ky./Ballard) assisted twice and forced one turnover in her final game at Bison Stadium
- Senior Academic All-PAC goalkeeper Madison Wagoner (Morgantown, W.Va./University) got the win by making six saves against the Gators in her final game at Bison Stadium
- Senior attack Grace Schweickert (Hiram, Ohio/Crestwood) and senior Academic All-PAC defender Gabby Hicks (Chinchilla, Australia) each tallied three ground balls and one caused turnover in their final home games
- Senior Academic All-PAC defender Alena Arbogast (Morgantown, W.Va./University) helped lead the Bison defense as they held Allegheny to two goals on five shots on goal in the second half
- Senior midfielder Catharina Recabeitia (Buenos Aires, Argentina/Escuela Normal Superior-Vicente Fatone) added two ground balls
- Junior Academic All-PAC midfielder Tatum Severe (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Bradley) posted her third five-goal game of the year and recorded a career-high seven draw controls to help the Bison win a spot in the tournament
- Junior Academic All-PAC midfielder Ally Barclay (Nashport, Ohio/Tri-Valley) had the best game of her career after finishing with a goal, an assist, four ground balls, and one caused turnover
- Freshman attack Hayden Chickerell (Fairmont, W.Va./Fairmont Senior) also scored for the Bison and picked up one ground ball
Allegheny Leaders
- Sophomore midfielder Erin Lowthert led the Allegheny offense with three goals and added six draw controls
- Sophomore goalkeeper Ella Ashton made 14 saves in goal for the Gators
- Sophomore midfielder Caroline Smith also had three goals and tied a team-high ground balls
The Bison are back in action on Tuesday, April 28 as they travel to New Wilmington, Pennsylvania to take on fourth-seeded Westminster (Pa.) College in the Presidents' Athletic Conference Tournament First Round at 6 p.m. at the UPMC Sports Complex.
