HICKORY, NC - The Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Lacrosse team opened conference play with a 15-7 loss to #19 Wingate on Saturday afternoon. The Bears were trailing 6-5 at halftime but Wingate scored the first five goals after the break and held LR to just two second half goals. 

Ellie Campbell had three goals for the Bears while Hannah Thomas and Kirra Olson had a pair.  LR will now head to Florida for a pair of non-conference games starting with #9 Saint Leo next Tuesday. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne  7, #19 Wingate  15
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (1-3, 0-1 SAC) , #19 Wingate (4-1, 1-0 SAC)
Location: Hickory, N.C. I Moretz Stadium

STATS OF THE GAME

• With the score tied 2-2, Wingate scored the last two goals of the first quarter to take a 4-2 lead after 15 minutes.  Hannah Thomas and Ellie Campbell each had opening quarter for the Bears. 
• Kirra Olson and Thomas scored back to back goals to tie the game at 5-5 but the Bulldogs got one more goal to take a 6-5 lead at halftime. 
• Wingate came out of the break scoring the first five goals of the half before Olson's second goal stopped the run. 
• Campbell got her hat trick in the 4th quarter but the Bears fall 15-7. 
• LR had 12 caused turnovers on the day, led by three from Caitlyn Race. 
• Sally Friesen had 11 saves in goal for the Bears.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• Wingate has now won the last five games against LR but the Bears still hold a 7-5 lead in the series.
• LR will play the next five games on the road and will not be home till March 26th.
• Friesen is eight saves away from 200 in her career. 
• Campbell got her 100th career point today with her third goal.

NEXT UP: Lenoir-Rhyne will travel to Florida for a pair of games starting with a trip to #9 Saint Leo on Tuesday, March 4th.