Box Score by Benny Benton
WILSON, N.C. – Despite a strong second-half rally, the Barton College women's lacrosse team suffered a 17-12 loss to Erskine College in the final home match of its inaugural season.
The two players honored at halftime on Senior Day, Kianna Jimenez of Raleigh, N.C., and Kelly Dolan of Naples, Fla., combined to score eight of the 12 goals for the Lady Bulldogs (1-8, 0-7).
Five of those goals came in the second half as Barton fought back from a 13-6 halftime deficit to trail by just three with 5:45 to play, but Erskine (2-8, 1-3) tacked on two late goals to secure its first Conference Carolinas win since 2015.
The Flying Fleet got off to a very fast start, taking a 6-1 lead in the game's first 10 minutes. Erin Landry and Maddie Drawdy each found the net twice for Erskine in the early going.
Consecutive goals by Barton – the first by Jimenez and the other by Alyssa Torres, cut Barton's deficit to 6-3, but Amanda Epstein recorded consecutive goals for Erskine as the Fleet opened up its cushion again.
Erskine enjoyed a huge 23-9 advantage in shots in the first half in taking its big lead, but the shot totals in the second period were even, 10-10.
Two goals by Jimenez to open the final half gave Barton momentum, and a man-advantage goal for Erskine did little to slow down the Lady Bulldogs. Goals by Lauren Bullock, Jimenez and Dolan, two of those coming on free position attempts, moved Barton back within three at 14-11 with just over 10 minutes to play.
Katie Schlagenhauf stopped the Barton streak on a goal with 7:22 to go, but Jimenez answered less than two minutes later to get the Lady Bulldogs back within three at 15-12.
However, after an Erskine time out, the Fleet worked its offense for a goal by Raven Smith off an entry pass from Schlagenhauf, effectively putting away the match with 2:29 remaining. Landry tacked on an insurance goal off a free position shot with 1:28 left to seal the win for EC.
Landry paced the Fleet with five goals and Epstein added four. Aleena McCoy had six ground balls and five draw controls in addition to pair of goals for Erskine.
Katie Christiansen was credited with a game-high seven ground balls for Barton, and Rebecca Fraser added six for the Lady Bulldogs. Jimenez won four draw controls for BC, and keeper Kia Morris posted eight saves.
Barton will play the final three matches of the program's first season on the road, beginning with an April 7 match at Converse College in Spartanburg, S.C.
