BREVARD, N.C. – The Brevard College women's lacrosse team (2-3, 1-0 USA South) captured a dominant 16-2 victory over NC Wesleyan (1-3, 0-2 USAS) in BC's USA South Conference opener on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Ives-Lemel Family Field.
 
BC's dynamic offensive duo of Emily Denaga and Xan Hill once again paved the path towards victory, as the duo combined for 11 of BC's 16 goals. A total of seven Tornados were able to find the back of the net, with Grace Blanton, Arianna Casertano, Sofia Hardin, Kelsey Hamrick, and Alyse Moore all scoring for Brevard. Hill dished out four assists to total nine points, while Hardin distributed a pair of dimes. Blanton, Casertano, Hamrick and Madi Norris also dished assists out as well.
 
Moore led BC's dominant defensive charge, scooping six ground balls and adding five caused turnovers. Norris collected four ground balls, while Denaga, Hamrick, Hill, and Lex MacLauchlin all recorded three GBs. Hill caused four turnovers, with Denaga and Hamrick also forcing three turnovers apiece. Hamrick led BC with five draw controls, with the Tornados winning 13 total draws thanks to Hill (3 DC), Casertano (2 DC), Denaga (2 DC), and Moore (1 DC).
 
MacLauchlin (2-0) got the start in goal for the Tornados, earning her second win of the season. Jillian Stine (0-3) was her counterpart in the other cage, totaling 11 saves. NCW's Maxima Iglesias scored both of the Battling Bishops' goals.
 
The Tornados took 37 total shots, with 27 coming on-target. BC forced 27 NCW turnovers, with 21 of them being caused. Brevard converted 16 of 18 total clear attempts, and outpaced NCW 27-11 in ground balls and 13-7 in draw controls. Brevard also went 2-for-4 on free-position shot attempts.
 
Brevard will return to action over Spring Break, making the trip to Misenheimer, North Carolina to face Pfeiffer on Tuesday, March 11 at 6 p.m.
 
Saturday's contest served as BC's annual Morgan's Message Dedication Game. Morgan's Message honors the life and legacy of Morgan Rodgers - a former Duke University Lacrosse student-athlete who tragically passed away in July of 2019 after battling mental health struggles. Although Morgan's life was cut short, her legacy of unconditional love remains. Morgan's Message was founded by her family and former teammates with the mission to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health, normalize the conversations about mental health, and to ensure that mental health is treated equally to physical health for all student athletes. For more information on Morgan's life, legacy and how you can help those with mental health struggles please visit Morgansmessage.org .
 
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