SPARTANBURG, S.C. - In the final home Converse Lacrosse match of the 2017 campaign, the Valkyries ran out of time against Lees-McRae in a 12-11 Conference Carolinas loss.
Before the game we honored seniors: Laura Starkes, Elizabeth Gabriele and Jessi Walters.
THE BASICS
FINAL | Converse 11, Lees-McRae 12
LOCATION | Spartanburg, S.C. (Fulp Field)
RECORDS | Converse 5-12 (3-7), Lees-McRae 5-9 (3-7)
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
The senior class scored seven of the team's 11 goals. Laura Starkes and Elizabeth Gabriele scored three goals each. Gabriele had two assists, while Starkes tallied one assist.
Jessi Walters scored one goals and two assists in the loss. Aubrie Lauderdale posted a hat-trick and dished out an assist.
Ashlei Alston grabbed six ground balls while Hadiyah Lewis picked up five and caused two turnovers. Kasey Halodik caused five turnovers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Half:
Lees-McRae jumped on the scoreboard just 26 seconds into the contest to take a 1-0 lead.
Elizabeth Gabriele found Laura Starkes for the first goal of the contest for the Valkyries. Gabriele put the Valkyries up 2-1 after Aubrie Lauderdale found Gabriele for the goal.
Aubrie Lauderdale scored on an unassisted goal for the early 3-1 advantage.
LMC would go on a four goal spurt to regain the lead at 5-3.
Brittni Jones halted the rally with a free position goal midway through the half. LMC would push their advantage back to two, 6-4.
Laura Starkes scored on an isolation play with 10 minutes to play for the final goal of the half. The Bobcats led 6-5 at the break.
2nd Half:
Elizabeth Gabriele found the equalizer just 50 seconds into the second half to knot things at 6-all on a free position goal.
The Bobcats would take control of the contest scoring five straight goals to lead 11-6 with 24 minutes left.
Jessi Walters took advantage of the man-up opportunity finding the back of the net off the pass from Elizabeth Gabriele.
LMC responded with a goal to push things back out to 12-7.
Laura Starkes tried to spark a comeback for the Valkyries scoring an unassisted goal with 8:20 remaining in regulation.
Back-to-back goals from the stick of Aubrie Lauderdale from assists by Jessi Walters to cut the deficit to 12-10 with 1:45 remaining.
Elizabeth Gabriele found the back of the net with 5.4 seconds left from the Laura Starkes assist to bring the contest within one, 12-11.
Converse was unable to gain possession of the draw control as time expired.
MILESTONES
Laura Starkes finishes her career with 159 points, 106 goals, and 53 assists. Her points and assists totals are tops in program history and goals is tied for second most.
Elizabeth Gabriele finished her career with 101 points, 78 goals and 23 assists.
UP NEXT
The Valkyries finish the season with a 5-12 overall record and a 3-7 record in the Conference Carolinas. With the loss Lees-McRae won the tiebreaker for the sixth and final seed for the tournament.