FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Indiana Tech women's lacrosse team started postseason play strong Tuesday afternoon with a 17-7 victory over Bethel University in the quarterfinals of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) Tournament inside Warrior Athletic Field.
 
Abby Barkdull had a game-high seven goals to go along with eight ground balls. Brooke Buhr had four goals, two assists, three ground balls, three draw controls and two caused turnovers while Halli Reinhard had nine draw controls, eight ground balls, six assists, four ground balls and two caused turnovers. Madi Jarvis had nine ground balls and five caused turnovers while Sydney Oberdorfer had 15 saves in the cage to pick up the win.
 
Bethel struck quickly with the first of five goals from Isabell Gerbrand just 36 seconds into the game before adding her second at the 9:32 mark and forcing a timeout from the Warriors. Buhr answered with a goal just 61 seconds later while Faith Donally tied it up with 7:42 to play in the first quarter. Reinhard converted on the woman advantage with 3:12 on the clock to put Tech up 3-2 while Barkdull sent the hosts up 4-2 just 63 seconds later and causing Bethel to take a timeout.
 
Both teams traded goals in the second with four apiece, including one from Abbey Wilson with 47 seconds left in the half while Gerbrand scored with just eight seconds on the clock to keep the visitors within two goals at 8-6 at the break.
 
The Warriors kept the offense going in the third with five straight goals, including two on the power play, to extend their lead to 13-6 by the 5:05 mark of the period and forcing another timeout call by the Pilots.
 
Tech extended the lead to 14-7 at the 11:55 mark of the fourth and while they did not score again until the 3:24 mark, they held the Pilots off the scoreboard as Oberforfer made six saves in the fourth to give the Warriors a three-game winning streak and their fifth win all-time against their in-state rivals.
 
Tech (8-5) now turns its attention to the WHAC Tournament Semifinals where they will take on No. 1-ranked and undefeated Lawrence Tech on Thursday. Opening draw is set for 5 p.m. from Blue Devils Stadium.