Box Score
GAMBIER, Ohio – In Wednesday afternoon's match between the Kenyon College women's lacrosse team and rival Denison University, the Ladies nearly erased a six-goal deficit but had its comeback effort thwarted. After the gap closed to just two goals, the Big Red scored three straight to put the game out of reach. Denison handed Kenyon its sixth loss of the season, and third straight, by a score of 16-12.
Alex Bair led a second-half charge that chipped into Denison's lead. Less than four minutes into the start of the second stanza, Bair began to aggressively attack the net and drew multiple fouls, setting up a pair of free position shots. The senior connected on both of her attempts, beating Big Red keeper Laura Van Horn each time.
Continuing their aggressive play, Ansen Burr and Kate Lang each scored to bulk the score up, making it 10-8 with 19:31 remaining.
Denison's challenge to keep the Ladies down became more difficult after Van Horn was caught up in a pile of bodies and sustained a right ankle injury, ending her day. The Ladies took advantage by marking up another goal against relief netminder Ansley Gibson just seconds after the substitution. Bair found Kelley Russell close to the net and the sophomore finished with her first goal of the game, making for a 12-10 score.
Though Kenyon would score twice more, Denison rallied and mounted an assault that took the Ladies out of contention. Claire Ludlow scored two of Denison's three unanswered goals that followed Russell's tally and then rode the clock out with a possession-style offense. Bair and Russell would each score once more before game's end, but Denison's lead became too much to handle.
Denison (10-4, 5-2 NCAC) had started the game nearly as well as it had ended, scoring the first four goals out of the gate in less than eight minutes of play. The Big Red had as large as a lead as seven goals when Whitney Powel tallied her first and the team's eighth goal of the half.
Kenyon failed to make good on either of its two extra-man opportunities while Denison scored once a player down and a player up. The total shot count favored Denison, 38-24, though both teams had 14 attempts in the second half. The Big Red also caused twice as many turnovers as they committed, aiding in their win.
Meredith Bentsen was peppered in the first half after seeing 19 shots on goal and making nine saves. While the defense stepped it up and cut down the number of shots faced, Bentsen also made five saves in the second half to keep Kenyon in the game.
Bair led the Ladies with five goals and seven points via a pair of assists. Lang followed up with three goals.
Kenyon will embark on its final game of the season at home against DePauw University this weekend at Mavec Field. The opening draw is set for 1 p.m.
