Wetherald, Spartans Hold Off Hawks for Sixth Straight Win
Apr 2, 2016
Senior Bridget Schirmers (center) celebrates one of her four goals in victory over Rockhurst (Mo.).
BOX SCORE
DUBUQUE, Iowa – Senior attacker Kelly Wetherald scored four goals and assisted on three others, freshman goalkeeper Kaley Weir came up with some clutch saves, and the University of Dubuque women’s lacrosse team held off Division II Rockhurst, 10-9, for their sixth straight victory.
Senior attacker Bridget Schirmers added four goals and Weir tallied nine saves as the Spartans (6-1) scored five of the game’s last six goals to keep their winning streak alive.
Wetherald was the offensive catalyst down the stretch after scoring or assisting on all but one of the Spartans six, second-half goals. Thanks to her fourth-straight 4+ goal performance, the Homer Glen, Ill. native leads the Spartans with 27 goals this season and needs just 21 more over the final 11 games to tie the single-season record of 48 goals set by Schirmers in 2014.
With UD down 7-4, Wetherald got hot and teamed up with Schirmers in rattling off five goals in the next 12 minutes to grab their first lead since less than four minutes into the game, 9-8.
Another Wetherald-to-Schirmers goal extended the lead as Rockhurst (5-6) countered with their final tally at the 2:41 mark. Weir impressed and saved numerous Hawk shot attempts down the stretch to preserve the fifth win of her career.
UD outshot Rockhurst, 31-24, and dominated in the ground ball department, 30-17.
Four different Spartans scored in the first half with Robyn Wittkopf collecting three assists as the Spartans trailed 5-4.
The Spartans improved to 1-1 in the all-time series against a Rockhurst team that had won its previous two games by the combined score of 48-5.
UD will have a quick turnaround and will host Benedictine University (Ill.) this Sunday, April 3 at 3:00 p.m.
