HICKORY, N.C. — An explosive first half from the Bears proved too much for Newberry to overcome as they dropped their conference opener 16-6.
Despite an 11-1 score going into halftime, the Wolves kept their composure and matched Lenoir-Rhyne for five goals in the second half. Helen Kuhn and Rachel Dillon each recorded a pair of goals to lead the team.
Monique Proctor found the back of the net after a ground ball pickup to tally another point in the Wolves’ favor in the opening minutes of the second stanza. A few minutes later Dillon capitalized off of a Bears’ turnover to make it 14-3 at the eight-minute mark.
Three consecutive goals from Sophie Moore, Dillon and Kuhn in the waning minutes capped off Newberry’s 16-6 loss.
Newberry held the advantage in draw controls 15-8, but had issues advancing the ball to their side of the field with seven of their fourteen clears being successful. The Wolves also lost the turnover battle 20-12.
Lenoir-Rhyne would find the goal seven times before a free position shot from Kuhn at the 12:43 mark in the first put Newberry on the board. The Bears’ defense stifled Newberry for the remainder of the half with Kuhn’s goal being the only one for the Wolves.
The Bears’ offense was relentless with Lenoir-Rhyne doubling Newberry’s shot attempts 24-12. Nineteen of those 24 shots were on goal compared to 11 for the Wolves.
Goalie Brandy Bowman had three saves on the afternoon, all occurring in the first half.