By Rhianna Davies
In a thrilling encounter at the USW Sports Park saw USW Women’s 1st lacrosse claim a 10-6 victory over Royal Agricultural 1st in BUCS league action.
The visitors started off brightly with Talis Humphries opening the scoring after just 22 seconds. The visitors lead was short lived when USW’s Tessa Hepburn score the equaliser for the home side in the 4th minute.
In the 6th minute, RAU’s Milly Drewett saw her shot saved after a lovely run passed the defence. Just a minute later Humphries had a penalty saved by the USW keeper, but her disappointment was short lived when she restored her sides lead within seconds to making it 2-1 to the visitors.
USW were soon level with captain Viki Szirtes scoring the equaliser following a quick break from the back at the 8th minute marker.
At the restart, USW showed more positive play and hit the post just before the first quarter whistle which ended 2-2.
Following the break it was Szirtes again who put her team in front in the 11th minute.
Despite being 3-2 down, both Humphries and RAU captain Bella Boulton continued to impress with some quick attacking, Humphries saw her shot in the 14th minute go just wide and two minutes later Boulton shot was well saved.
Some pressure and good skill from the visitors was soon rewarded when Humphries completed her hat-trick and brought RAU level in the 17th minute at 3-3. However, just a minute later USW’s Holly Shepard put the home side in front once again with a goal to end the scoring in the first half at 4-3 to USW.
USW came out the blocks the quickest after half time. Hepburn, who was the standout player, producing some lovely play in the 22nd minute only to see her shot go straight at the keeper. Her disappointment was short lived as just a minute later as she scored her second of the afternoon and USW’S fifth.
Visiting Captain Boulton scored in the 25th minute to make it a one goal game once again, but this didn’t last long after Hepburn again showed her talent to restore USW’s lead in the 26th minute.
USW began to dominate at the end of the third quarter with several shots coming from both Hepburn and Maria Beatriz. The quarter ended with the visitors trailing 6-4 .
It was all to play for in the final quarter with both teams looking for the victory.
USW took control scoring two goals in two minutes to stretch the lead to 8-4. Hepburn securing her hat-trick with Tal Moreb also getting on the scoresheet.
After good individual play, Eleanor Fairey got her name on the scoresheet scoring for the visitors only to see Beatriz finally get her goal, after numerous shots throughout the game a minute later to make it 9-5.
USW got their tenth in the last minute as Szirtes clinched her personal hat-trick after picking up the ball on the halfway line. RAU finished the game with a consolation goal in the last second, but USW were too strong overall.
The game finished 10-6 to the home side despite a spirited effort from the visitors.
