Eutectics hang tough but Braves spoil Senior Day

CREVE COEUR, MO – The second-leading scorer in the NAIA paid a visit to St. Louis as Mackenzie Simmons and her Ottawa Braves faced the Eutectics on a chilly, windy day for a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference affair. Simmons had scored 66 goals on the season coming into the matchup and eight goals later helped her Braves to a 13-10 triumph over UHSP.

Simmons netted three goals alone in a five-goal third period that turned a 6-5 Ottawa lead at the half, to a three-goal contest heading to the fourth quarter in a game that featured very little separation between the two clubs. The game featured six ties and six lead changes with UHSP owning the lone multiple-goal advantage through the first 30 minutes. Eutectics' leading scorer Caeley Doran connected for three of her clubs five first-half goals with her goal at 10:13 of the second quarter giving UHSP a 5-3 lead. Doran scored back-to-back just :49 seconds apart early in the first quarter to give the Purple and Gold their first lead on Senior Day. That was after Simmons opened the scoring just 4:33 into the contest to begin her assault on her eight-goal game. Paulina Pompa and Curstin Brown scored 3:02 apart late in the first to reclaim the lead for OU before Michelle Le scored on a power-play with just :12 seconds left in the first to make it a 3-3 game after one period.

The home club opened the second quarter with early pressure on the Braves and around goaltender Shelby Bearden. It took Molly Biermann only :49 seconds to give the Eutectics the lead back before Doran netted her third of the match. But Ottawa turned to their leader and saw Simmons finish the second by scoring three in a row, two of which came off free position shots, as Ottawa grabbed a 6-5 halftime lead.

Despite the conditions and despite facing a conference foe that was receiving votes in the latest NAIA national poll, the Eutectics were able to exhibit sustained offensive sequences and were not intimidated by a bigger Ottawa squad. Doran and Ella Penke each scored just 1:05 into the third and it was UHSP back on top 7-6, further fueling the energy coming off the home bench. But the Braves scored the final four goals of the third, three by Simmons, the other KaiAnna Senne on a power play to take a 10-7 lead to the fourth. Michelle Le's power play goal made it a two-goal game but Ashley Santillan scored off a free position attempt and Faith Ruoff added another for the visitors and it was a 12-8 lead for OU. Kayle Nguyen gave UHSP a small window of opportunity scoring with 3:23 left to close the gap to three, but Simmons scored her final goal of the game to make it a four-goal lead and seal the Eutectics' fate. Doran scored off a power play free position shot with 2:07 left to cap the scoring.

It was an extremely physical affair all day as the game featured 31 total fouls, not counting the 21 different cards that were handed out. Ottawa outshot the Eutectics 35-18 and UHSP netminder Brianna Dixon made ten saves on 23 shots on goal while Bearden made three saves on 13 shots on goal for Ottawa. Caeley Doran was the definition of efficiency for the Eutectics scoring five goals on just five shots while Michelle Le turned in a hat trick on just four shots on goal.

The day began by UHSP honoring their lone senior, Mandy Xa, prior to the game. Xa assisted on Le's goal to start the fourth quarter for her lone point on the day. Xa has eight goals and four assists on the season for UHSP. The senior recorded ten goals and two assists in the Eutectic inaugural season of women's lacrosse last year. She also holds the distinction of scoring the first-ever goal in UHSP history on Feb. 26, 2023 in a loss to William Penn.

There are two games left on the 2024 docket for the Eutectics (7-5, 2-1) as they play at Washington University-St. Louis on Sunday morning at 11:00am. UHSP wraps up their season the following weekend on Saturday, April 13 at 1:00pm when they play host to nationally ranked 5-Missouri Baptist.