Skyhawks fall in back-and-forth battle with Bulldogs

ATHENS, Tenn. (April 7, 2022) – Kaelyn Geathers broke the school record for most goals scored in a single game in a tough battle between the Point University women's lacrosse team and the Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs Thursday in Athens. The game featured six ties and three lead changes, but in the end, the Bulldogs came out victorious in a 21-17 high-scoring matchup.

A foul less than two minutes into the contest would allow Janie Marie Messer to take a free position shot and get the Skyhawks an early 1-0 lead. The Bulldogs would even the score before Geathers would retake the lead 2-1. Tennessee Wesleyan answered with three consecutive goals, but Geathers would score the final two goals of the opening quarter to even the score 4-4.

The Bulldogs would foul to open the second quarter, allowing Maddie Donnelly to take a free position shot and score the opening goal of the frame to give Point a 5-4 lead. The Bulldogs would answer to tie the game again, but Geathers would respond to help Point go ahead 7-6. The Bulldogs, however, would close the half with three goals to take a 9-7 lead.

TWU would limit Point to two goals in the third quarter, with Sydney Hanna scoring the first goal of the half and Geathers connecting for her sixth goal. The Bulldogs would score six goals to take a 15-9 lead. Point's offense would come out hot in the final frame, with Messer connecting for the first goal of the quarter and Geathers following with back-to-back goals. The Bulldogs would extend their lead to four goals before Kelli Grimsley would connect for her first goal of the contest to bring TWU's lead back to three. The Bulldogs would answer to take the lead 17-13, but back-to-back goals from Geathers and Grimsley would bring the score within two (17-15). This would be as close as Point would get, as Tennessee Wesleyan outscored the Skyhawks 4-1 in the final 6:30 of action. Geathers was Point's lone goal scorer in the game's closing minutes.

Geathers' 10 goals came off 19 shots, 15 on goal. She had three ground balls and won 12 draw controls. She broke the school record set by Umika Brewer, who scored eight goals in Point's game against Brenau in 2021.

Grimsley recorded a hat trick with three goals of 12 shots, six on frame. She added two ground balls and seven draw controls. Messer scored two goals off four shots, three on frame. Donnelly and Hanna each scored one goal off four shots and three on frame. In goal, Kayla Bone recorded 12 saves and had four ground balls. The Skyhawks outshot Tennessee Wesleyan 49-39. The Bulldogs fouled Point 35 times while the Skyhawks fouled nine times.

With the completion of Thursday's game, Point finished their Appalachian Athletic Conference record 2-5. The Skyhawks will compete in their final game of the regular season on Saturday, as they travel to face Shorter at 4 p.m.