Women's Lacrosse Open Season with Win Against Lees-McRae

BANNER ELK, N.C.- The women's lacrosse team opened the 2026 season with a 14-11 win on Monday. The team went on the road and beat the Lees-McRae College Lady Bobcats, an opponent out of NCAA Division II. 

TWU started off the scoring as Kate Buchanan turned Olivia Downey's pass into a goal. Lees-McRae scored three of the next four goals, though, to take a 3-2 lead. Buchanan scored to send the game into a 3-3 tie to begin the second quarter. 

The close action continued as both teams scored two goals in the second quarter to send the game into halftime tied 5-5. Buchanan and Aava Downey scored back-to-back goals to give the team a 5-3 lead. The opponents matched with back-to-back goals before the end of the half to send the game to halftime tied.

Out of the halftime break, O. Downey scored to give the team the lead. After seeing Lee-McRae equalize the score, Elizabeth Pluta put the team back up by one goal, making the score 7-6. The opponents scored the final two goals of the third quarter to lead 8-7 to begin the fourth.

Jozlyn Long tied the game on a free position shot four minutes into the fourth quarter. Four minutes later, Pluta scored to give the team a 9-8 lead. With 6:50 remaining, the opponents tied the score again. TWU broke the tie with four straight goals, two each by Buchanan and O. Downey, giving the team a 13-9 lead. Kylie Heinrich gave the team their 14th goal in the team's 14-11 win.

Buchanan led the team with five goals. Rylee Brendlinger had eight saves in the net.

TWU (1-0) goes back on the road on Wednesday for a matchup against another NCAA Division II opponent, Mars Hill University. The game is set to begin at 4:00 p.m.