SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Senior midfielder Brittni Jones scored a career-high seven goals but it was not enough as the Converse (2-7) lacrosse team dropped a non-conference home match against Wilmington (Del.) (1-4) on Tuesday afternoon at Fulp Field. Jones matched her season total of goals from last year (28) in just 8th game this season.
Ashlei Alston recorded a hat trick as she found the back of the net on three different occasions, while Aubrie Lauderdale and Sharlize Burgos added a goal each. Lauderdale also posted two assists to lead the Valkyries on offense to go along with her team-high six groundballs. Cassandra Bravo chipped in five groundballs and three caused turnovers.
Converse held a 28-22 advantage on shots as well as a 27-26 mark with groundballs. Both teams committed 21 turnovers. Wilmington finished 16-of-20 on clears while the Vals converted on 16-of-23 clear attempts. The Wildcats were tagged for one penalty.
Burgos got the scoring started with an unassisted goal just under five minutes into the contest to give the Valkyries the early lead. Wilmington's La'Dae Boykin answered that score with a free position goal not even two minutes later to knot the contest at 1-1 with 23:55 remaining in the opening period.
Jones connected on her first of seven points at the 21:51 mark to spark a 4-0 burst by the Valkyries in just seven minutes of game action. The Wildcats came back with two quick scores of its own to trim the deficit to 5-3, but Converse opened the game back up as Alston and Jones went back-to-back to run the lead to 7-3.
A Wilmington goal at the 4:50 mark was outdone by Jones' two goals late in the first half, giving the Valkyries a 9-4 lead heading into the locker room.
The Wildcats came out in control of the second half, ripping off a 7-1 run over 15 minutes of action to take their first lead, 11-10. That lead did not last long as the duo of Alston and Jones were at it again, giving the Valkyries the lead back with scores 50 seconds apart from each other.
However, that was the last time the Purple and Gold would find the back of the net and Wilmington's Taylor Lambeth and Lashay Ross scored at the 2:46 and 2:12 mark, respectively, to give the Wildcats a 13-12 come-from-behind win over Converse.
Caitlyn Johnson went the distance in the net for the Valkyries, collecting five saves while allowing 13 goals. Maddie Hurm picked up the win between the pipes for Wilmington, giving up 12 goals and tallying 11 saves.
Converse will return to Conference Carolinas action on Friday, March 23 as it travels to Banner Elk, N.C. to face Lees-McRae College. That contest is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.