FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The No. 5-ranked and No. 1-seeded Indiana Tech women's lacrosse team opened postseason play on Friday evening as they defeated No. 9-ranked and No. 4-seeded Aquinas, 20-14, in the semifinals of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) Tournament at Warrior Athletic Field.
The Saints used a pair of quick strikes to get out to a 2-1 lead over the regular season WHAC champions four minutes into the game, but the Warriors responded with five straight goals over the next 13 minutes to take a 6-2 lead. Aquinas cut the deficit down to two at 7-5 and at 8-6 with 2:33 and 1:33 to go in the opening half as Tech took an 8-6 lead into the locker room.
McKenna Mesclier starred a four-goal streak for the hosts with 23:45 on the clock in the second half as the Orange and Black propelled their lead to 13-7 at the 21:04 mark. The visitors battled back though, using a pair of woman-up goals to cut the deficit to 14-11 with 15:50 to play. Mesclier would start a five-goal streak for Tech this time though, beating the Saints goalie at the 14:49 while
Bailey Childs notched her sixth goal of the game with 7:34 to play and the Warriors lead at 19-12.
Aquinas would not lay down without a fight though as they scored three more times of the next four minutes to make it a 19-14 contest with 3:55 on the clock, but Mesclier found the back of the cage with 2:53 on the clock to notch her sixth goal of the game, and the 20
th for Tech, to cap the scoring and send the hosts onto the championship game.
Childs dished out three assists to give her a team-high nine points and picked up 10 draw controls and four ground balls.
Kristina Scott added five ground balls, three goals and three draw controls while
Sam Vikstrom had four assists, three caused turnovers, two goals and two draw controls.
Sydney Davis made eight saves in the cage to pick up the win.
Tech (16-2) will now take on No. 3-ranked and No. 2-seeded Lawrence Tech in the finals of the WHAC Tournament on Saturday. Opening draw is set for 1 p.m. from Warrior Athletic Field.
