The Lindenwood Lions battled back from early deficits and held on in a tense finish to defeat Kennesaw State 10-9 on the road Wednesday night. This hard-fought victory gave Lindenwood its first Atlantic Sun Conference win of the season and showed the fight this young team can bring against solid competition.
Luci Selander led the way with three goals and one assist. Taylor Coughlin stood tall in goal with 12 saves. The win lifted Lindenwood to 4-7 overall and 1-2 in ASUN play while dropping Kennesaw State to 6-5 and 1-1 in conference.
Early Exchange Shows Battle Ahead
Both teams came out firing in the first quarter. Selander got Lindenwood on the board at the 10:17 mark. Kennesaw State answered quickly with two straight goals to take control.
Selander struck again to cut the lead to 3-2. The Lions created good chances late in the period but could not tie it up. They trailed by one after 15 minutes of action.
The close score set the tone for a game that would stay tight throughout. Defenses started to tighten as both sides looked for any edge in transition.
Halftime Adjustment Keeps Lions Close
Kennesaw State scored first in the second quarter to push their lead to 4-2. Reese Krieger responded for Lindenwood a few minutes later to make it 4-3.
The Owls went up by two goals. They thought they had extended the lead further but a crease violation wiped the goal off the board.
Selander completed her hat trick on a feed from Alissa DiGiacinto to close the gap to 5-4 at the break. Coughlin had already made seven saves by halftime and gave her team a chance to stay within striking distance.
The Lions showed resilience by answering every run from the home side. Their ability to score in bunches kept the game within reach heading into the second half.
Third Quarter Surge Gives Lindenwood Lead
Neither team found the net early in the third. Claire Blue finally tied the game at 5-5 with 6:57 left in the period. Charlize Vang picked up the assist.
DiGiacinto then scooped up a loose ball and scored to put Lindenwood ahead 6-5. Olivia Godbout found Annie Wille in front for another goal that stretched the lead to 7-5.
Kennesaw State got one back before the quarter ended. The Lions took a 7-6 advantage into the final period after outscoring the Owls 3-1 in the third.
This stretch marked a clear momentum shift. Lindenwood controlled more ground balls and forced turnovers that led directly to their scoring chances.
Clutch Fourth Quarter Secures the Victory
Lindenwood started the fourth on a man-up opportunity. Selander connected with Vang to make it 8-6.
Coughlin came up with a huge save on a free position attempt. Kennesaw State still pushed back to make it 8-7 with over 10 minutes remaining.
The Owls tied the game moments later. Vang responded to put the Lions back in front 9-8 at the 6:36 mark.
Reese Krieger added a late goal to make it 10-8. Kennesaw State scored once more with 1:38 left to close within one at 10-9.
Selander scooped up the crucial draw control after that goal. Lindenwood then ran out the clock to seal the 10-9 road win.
Game Leaders
- Taylor Coughlin: 12 saves, 2 ground balls
- Luci Selander: 3 goals, 1 assist
- Charlize Vang: 2 goals, 1 assist
Quarter Scores
- First: Lindenwood 2, Kennesaw State 3
- Second: Lindenwood 2, Kennesaw State 2
- Third: Lindenwood 3, Kennesaw State 1
- Fourth: Lindenwood 3, Kennesaw State 3
Veteran Leadership Drives Team Forward
Selander continues to prove why she ranks among the top attackers in the conference. The senior from Minnesota transferred from Butler and has brought experience and scoring punch to the Lions.
Her four points in this game added to an already strong season. She has stepped up as a leader for a Lindenwood squad that features several younger players gaining valuable minutes.
Coughlin’s performance in net proved just as important. Her dozen saves included several key stops in the fourth quarter when the game hung in the balance.
This victory comes after tough conference losses earlier in the month. Lindenwood fell heavily to Liberty and Delaware but showed they can compete in tighter matchups against teams like Kennesaw State.
The ASUN continues to grow stronger with new members bringing more depth to the league. Wins like this one will prove vital as Lindenwood pushes for a better position in the standings and a chance at the conference tournament in late April.
The Lions now turn their attention to another road test. They travel to face Queens University of Charlotte on Saturday, March 28 with first draw set for 10 a.m. Eastern.
This narrow escape on the road should give the team confidence. They proved they can win close games when it matters most and showed real character in protecting the lead late.
College lacrosse often comes down to these small moments. A saved shot here, a won draw there, and smart clock management at the end. Lindenwood checked all those boxes on Wednesday night in Georgia.
Fans watching the Lions this season have seen growth in key areas. The defense has tightened in spots while the attack continues to create scoring chances even against strong opponents.
For a program building in a competitive new conference, nights like this one matter. They build belief and momentum at the right time of year.
