Reiter scores eight goals, Women's Lacrosse stuns North Central

NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Sammi Reiter scored a program-record-tying eight goals and Concordia University Wisconsin earned an important 14-13 at North Central College on Tuesday at Beneditti-Wehrli Stadium. The win keeps the Falcons in second place in the MWLC standings with four games to play.

Reiter (Stillwater, Minn.) tied the program's single game record with eight goals, which she previously set last season. The junior midfielder has been the Falcons main offensive threat all season and found the back of the net four times in each half.

It was a back-and-forth affair, as there were four scoring ties and five lead changes in the contest. The most important goal of the heated league matchup came from junior Hannah Redden (Libertyville, Ill.) with 29 seconds remaining in the game. The tally pushed CUW's winning streak to three games and came 11 minutes after a three-goal barrage by NCC.

Offense was on full display during the cold April evening, as the Falcons rebounded from an early four-goal deficit in the first half to take a three-goal lead with 12:19 to play in the game. NCC then recorded three-straight goals in a quick 38 seconds, which tied the game for the final time.

The defense on both sides finally came to life for over 10 minutes down the stretch. A late turnover on a failed clear allowed Redden to pick up the ground ball and fire home the first game-winner of her career.

Reiter scored the Falcons only two free-position scores, to go along with four ground balls and two draw control wins. Redden ended with three goals, two assists and three ground balls. Junior Hayley Peppers (Franktown, Colo.) had a goal, seven ground balls, six draw controls wins and three caused turnovers.

Junior Emily Heckendorf (Merrill, Wis.) scored twice, picked up four ground balls, won six draw controls and caused two turnovers. Sophomore Katherine Pauletti (Roseville, Minn.) finished with a career-high five ground balls and two caused turnovers.

Freshman Veronika Metanova (Palatine, Ill.) earned the victory after making 12 saves, while her counterpart Sandy Stasaitis made seven saves.

Gina Fischer led NCC (5-4, 4-1 MWLC) with seven goals (four free-position markers), two assists, 14 ground balls, seven draw control wins and five caused turnovers. Kassie Whaling scored twice and four other Cardinals had a goal.

The Falcons won 15-of-29 draw controls and forced 17 turnovers of which 11 were caused.

CUW (9-3, 5-1 MWLC) will ride the momentum into Thursday night's 7 p.m. MWLC matchup at Beloit College.