MONTEVALLO, Ala. – Montevallo women's lacrosse bounced back with a 14-11 win over Tusculum on Wednesday afternoon.
 
The Falcons jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with a pair of goals from junior Jenna Piazza in the opening 1:39. A Pioneer turnover led to Montevallo's third goal in the first three minutes this time Claire Withington found the mark. Sophomore Kiley Shea gave the Falcons a 4-0 lead at the 11:21 mark off a third Falcon draw control. At the 9:26 mark, freshman Ellery Shearer added to Montevallo's lead with a free-position goal. With 7:26 to go, freshman goal keeper Ashlei Piazza recorded her first save of the day. A pair of Tusculum goals in the final 3:55 of the first quarter sent the game to the second with a 5-2 Montevallo advantage.
 
The Pioneers took advantage of a Montevallo penalty to score the first goal of the second quarter and cut Montevallo's lead down to 5-3. Just over two minutes later, Shearer added Montevallo's first man-up goal of the day to stretch the lead back to three. TU added a man-up goal at the 8:05 mark before Shea scored on a free-position opportunity with 6:39 left. A pair of Tusculum goals threatened the Falcons lead before Piazza added a third goal to give the Falcons an 8-6 lead with 5:05 to play. The Pioneers cut Montevallo's lead down to one yet again before Shearer's second man-up goal of the quarter sent Montevallo the half with a 9-7 lead.
 
Montevallo stuck first in the third quarter with another goal from Shea at the 12:33 before Tusculum answered just 31 seconds later. Shea stretched Montevallo's lead to 11-8 at the 11:14 mark before Withington found the back of the net in a Montevallo penalty kill to give the Falcons a four-goal lead at the 9:50 mark. Shearer added her fourth goal of the day with 5:18 left in the third quarter. About two minutes later, Shea tallied her fifth goal of the afternoon to give the Falcons a 14-8 lead with 3:40 left in the third. Tusculum found its second goal of the third quarter in the final minute to send the game to the fourth with a 14-9 Falcon advantage.
 
In the fourth quarter, Tusculum cut the Falcons' lead to 14-10 with 12:13 to go before adding the final goal of the game with 6:26 to play. Montevallo recorded just five shots in the quarter but held the Pioneers at bay to take the third win of the season.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Montevallo 14 | Tusculum 11
Records: Montevallo 3-7 (0-1 GSC) | Tusculum 3-7 (1-3 SAC)
Location: Lacrosse Stadium | Montevallo, Ala.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
1^st | The Falcons were outshot in the opening quarter, 9-7, but a pair of saves from Ashlei Piazza but a 6-1 advantage in draw controls led the Falcons to a 5-2 lead after the first quarter. Jenna Piazza led the Falcons first-quarter attack with a pair of goals in the opening 15 minutes.
2^nd | Montevallo was outshot yet again, 7-6, but a pair of man-up goals from Ellery Shearer and a free-position goal from Kiley Shea kept the Pioneers at bay. The Falcons continued to handle the draw controls with a 6-3 advantage in the second.
3^rd | Montevallo offense fired on all cylinders in the third quarter with 13 shots to just two from Tusculum for the Falcons second five-goal quarter of the game. Montevallo won the turnover battle for the first time of the day with a 4-8 advantage in giveaways.
4^th | The Falcons held Tusculum at arm's length in the fourth quarter with six saves from MacKenzie Griffin who allowed just two goals in the final 15 minutes. The Falcons were held scoreless in the final quarter despite a pair of free-position opportunites.
 
GAME NOTES

• Montevallo scored the first goal of the day and never gave up the lead throughout the entire contest.
• Montevallo's offense was highlighted by five goals from Kiley Shea while freshman Ellery Shearer added four goals and an assist for a total of 10 points between the two.
• Freshman goalkeeper Ashlei Piazza moved to 3-3 on the season in just her sixth start with a pair of saves while MacKenzie Griffin added six saves in the final 15 minutes.
• Montevallo lost the turnover battle, 19-16, but was near perfect on clears with a 17-20 mark.

 
UP NEXT: Montevallo heads to the sunshine state for a meeting with Saint Leo on March 23 at 12 p.m.