HANOVER, Ind – The Hanover women's lacrosse team advanced to the Championship game of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament for the third consecutive season after defeating Franklin on Thursday afternoon 19-6.
Hanover used a balance attack getting goals from six different student-athletes. Pacing the attack was freshman
Masi McNally-Henriksen (Zionsville, Ind.) with a record setting day. The first-year scored a game-high seven goals, the most by any freshman in Hanover history. She also claimed the Hanover record for most points in a game by a freshman with nine.
Hanover scored early and often as junior
Britney Hernandez (Louisville, Ky.) started the scoring frenzy just two minutes into the contest. Freshman
Maggie Donovan (Zionsville, Ind.) helped deliver the next blow as she found junior
Anne Breeding (Miamisburg, Ohio) at the 27:30 mark to push the difference when Hernandez struck again, 3-0.
Masi McNally-Henriksen opened her impressive afternoon with 25:27 remaining in the opening half before junior
Milah Young (Granger, Ind.) charted her first goal moments later.
The first half outburst continued as
Masi McNally-Henriksen connect with freshman
Taylor McNally-Henriksen (Zionsville, Ind.) at the 18:13 mark to extend the Hanover lead to 8-1. Masi took over from there as she netted three goals in a row that saw the Panthers blow the game wide open, 11-2.
The Panthers closed out the half with the 14-3 advantage after getting scores by Breeding and Hernandez.
The second half would see Franklin strike first when
Masi McNally-Henriksen responded with back-to-back goals that put Hanover out in front 16-4.
With 18:01 remaining, Hernandez connected for her final goal of the afternoon as she took a free position shot that beat the Grizzlie keeper.
Taylor McNally-Henriksen dealt the final strike of the semifinal match-up as the Panthers advanced to the Championship game with a 19-6 victory.
The Panthers return to action on Saturday, May 1 when they head to Lexington, Ky. for the Championship match-up with Transylvania.