Harrisonburg, VA - In the first ever matchup between the two schools, the Southern Virginia University women's lacrosse team traveled north to Harrisonburg for a matchup with non-conference foe, Eastern Mennonite. The Knights took care of business and emerged victorious by a final score of 12-9.

With several new faces on the roster, Southern Virginia came into the game looking to show their potential. The Royals started the game on fire with three quick goals. But the Knights responded to pull within one goal by the end of the first quarter. Late in the first half, Southern Virginia pulled away, capitalizing on key possessions down the stretch. They managed to head into the locker room with an 8-4 advantage thanks to offensive contributions from Kenzie Poulsen and Makenzie Mickelsen, who combined for six goals before the end of the second frame.

The Knights got off to a slow start in the third quarter, struggling to match the shot attempts of Eastern Mennonite. However, the Royals had a difficult time finishing their chances because of the play from freshman goalkeeper, Savanna Burnett. The teams traded goals in the third quarter as Eastern Mennonite managed to keep the deficit to a minimum. The Knights were ballhawks all night long, Mia Richards in particular, who collected a game high of six ground balls. 

On the offensive end, Reagan Bullock fired away for five shots on goal, finding the back of the net twice. With the game on the line in the final quarter, Eastern Mennonite stayed in touch by punching in two quick goals. In the final minute, Southern Virginia played keep away to melt the remaining time on the clock, securing the Knights their first win of the season.

Both teams achieved 12 draw controls. Leading the charge for the Knights was Ellie Patterson and Makenzie Mickelsen, who garnered four. Southern Virginia also outmatched Eastern Mennonite by connecting on three of their five free possession shots, while Eastern Mennonite could only take advantage of one. 

The Knights return to Buena Vista in preparation of their home opener on Saturday, February 22nd, when they host Marymount at 12:00 PM. 

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