ENGLEWOOD, Fla. Nina Moore scored what would become the game-winning goal during first-half action, but Whitman's 23-14 non-conference women's lacrosse victory over Hendrix (Ark.) College at the 22nd Annual SpringFling wasn't as easy as just hanging on to a lead.
When Moore scored her first tally of the day it gave the Blues (2-4) a 5-4 lead, an advantage that was the third lead change within the opening 16 minutes of action at Dever Park against Hendrix (4-3).
Moore's marker was part of a four-goal surge that pushed Whitman to a 7-4 edge.
Hendrix trimmed its deficit with a free position goal from Morgan Dasch, but the first of the Blues' lengthy goal streaks would follow.
Lindsay Schwartz bookended the unanswered run of six Whitman goals, with ones from
Sage Ali, Moore,
Ellie Teare and
Hannah Miller sandwiched between.
Hendrix would add a goal just before halftime but the Blues owned a comfortable 13-6 advantage at the break.
The Warriors squeezed three goals in between markers from Miller and Teare during the first five minutes of second-half action, but Whitman still seemed to have control of the contest, at 15-9.
That's when things got out of control, though, as Hendrix rallied with five straight goals to pull within one at 15-14 with 14:22 to play.
Schwartz ended that string, with her sixth of the game, and Ali followed with her fourth of the contest to ignite a 7-0 run by the Blues that crushed the comeback hopes of the Warriors.
Schwartz would finish with a game-high seven goals and would add an assist on one of Teare's two goals. Miller finished the late afternoon game with five goals and Ali ended with four.
Moore registered the game-winner at the 13:42 mark of the first, then scored four more times will also coming away with a game-best 11 draw controls, and chipping in with two ground-ball pickups and a caused turnover.
Kate Whittingham earned the win in goal for the Blues, finisher her afternoon with five saves, all in the second half.
The victory concludes Whitman's visit to Florida for the SpringFling. Next up for the Blues is a return to Northwest Conference action on March 30 at Pacific (Ore.) University.
