SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Sophomore attack Sharlize Burgos posted a team-high seven goals to help guide the Converse (5-5, 4-3 CC) lacrosse team to a crucial 13-10 Conference Carolinas win over visiting Emmanuel (3-10, 3-4 CC) College on Saturday afternoon at Hayden Abney Fulp Field. The Valkyries built a comfortable 9-3 lead in the first half and hung on for the win with stellar defense down the stretch.
Burgos wasted no time putting the Valkyries on the board, connecting on back-to-back free position goals to give CC the 2-0 lead before Flore Samsi and Libby Stevens got in on the scoring action for the Purple and Gold, expanding the Vals lead to 4-0 with 19:06 remaining in the opening half.
That run continued as Converse was firing on all cylinders during the first session of play. Stevens scored for the second time during the contest, giving the Valkyries an 8-0 lead with less than nine minutes before halftime.
Erskine's Katie Schlagenhauf finally put the visitors on the board with a free position goal, but Amy Allen came right for the Vals, connecting on a free position goal of her own to push the lead to 9-1. However, the Flying Fleet finished the half with a pair of goals to trim the deficit to 9-3 heading into the intermission.
Just as she did in the first half, Burgos started the scoring for the Valkyries in period two, beating the Flying Fleet defense and blasting the rock into the back of the net. Schlagenhauf posted another score for Erskine three minutes later, but the Vals led 10-4 with 19 and a half minutes to play.
Over the next 17-plus minutes of game time, Erskine used a pivotal 6-2 run to close the gap to 12-10 with just over one minute left on the clock in regulation. Samsi took the next draw control and went down the field to beat the Fleet keeper, allowing the Valkyries to survive a 13-10 win.
Converse will be back in action on Wednesday, April 3, traveling to face the Bulldogs of Wingate University. That contest is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.