BUENA VISTA, VA. — Southern Virginia University's women's lacrosse team triumphed over Bridgewater College 15-13 in a thrilling game on Saturday. Despite a strong start by the Eagles, the Knights refused to back down and, after a hard-fought battle, emerged victorious.

"Tonight was an example of great Knight lacrosse, unified play, and a battle of resilience," exclaimed Head Coach Rainey Whitworth. "I love watching this team come together and fight back. With a tough preseason schedule, this is exactly what we, as a coaching staff, needed to see. 

The game started with Bridgewater dominating the first quarter, with Aunnie Hacker, Lauren Roberts, and Annika Benson scoring three goals in quick succession. Southern Virginia's Tyler John scored a goal, but Bridgewater responded with two more goals from Lauren Roberts and Annika Benson.

The Knights' determination paid off in the second quarter, with Tyler John, Roxy LeBaron, and Kiah Baisden scoring three goals to narrow the gap. However, the Eagles managed to maintain their lead, ending the quarter with a score of 8-7 in their favor.

The third quarter saw Southern Virginia take control of the game, with Alissa Johnson scoring two goals and Kiah Baisden and Rylee Webster scoring one each. Although Bridgewater managed to net two goals in the quarter, they could not keep up with Southern Virginia's relentless attacks.

The final period was tightly contested, with both teams fighting hard for the win. The Eagles' Madeline Magill and Annika Benson scored goals with assists from Roberts, bringing the game to a 13-13 tie. However, the Knights' Webster and Johnson refused to let the game end in a draw, scoring three crucial goals to seal the victory for Southern Virginia University.

Johnson led the way for Southern Virginia with six goals, while John added four and Webster contributed two. Roberts led the way with six goals for Bridgewater, and Benson added three.

"Tonight was a well-deserved win for us," stated Johnson after the game. "We've been working all year to separate ourselves, and tonight reflected that. Everyone did their job and loved the game, which is why we came out successful. This team is everything to me. We just love being together."

With the victory, the Knights improve to 3-3 on the season and will look to build on their momentum in their upcoming game against conference foe Piedmont University on the road scheduled for Saturday, March 25, at 1 pm. 

For the most up-to-date details and information on the team, visit knightathletics.com for live stats and streaming options, and follow the team on Instagram @knightwlax.