Season Review: Women's Lacrosse makes progress in shortened 2020 season
By Tim Glon
ADA — The Ohio Northern women's lacrosse program made progress in its abbreviated 2020 season.
The Polar Bears, under fifth-year head coach Beth Hemminger, posted a 3-2 record against solid competition before the season was stopped early due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Ohio Northern raced to a program-best 3-0 start, edging Kalamazoo (Mich.) 12-10 at home, downing Hiram 18-3 on the road and topping Trine (Ind.) 14-8 in a hefty snowstorm at Dial-Roberson Stadium.
ONU narrowly missed a 4-0 start, falling to Gwynedd Mercy (Pa.) 13-12 in overtime in Hilton Head Island.
Senior Maddie Storr looked to score the game-winning goal with six seconds left, but the ball scooted through a hole in the between the net at the goal post and was not counted by the officials.
GMC then scored the game-winner with 13 seconds left in the first overtime period.
Northern returned home and fell to a solid Adrian (Mich.) squad 9-5 before the season was canceled by the Ohio Athletic Conference and the NCAA on March 12.
"We had very high expectations for the season and were off to a good start," Hemminger said. "It is upsetting that our seniors were not able to finish their careers on their own terms. Our freshmen class was playing well and they won't be able to experience a full season to help in their development."
The OAC did not name All-Conference teams in any spring sports due to the shortened seasons, but five Polar Bears did earn Academic All-OAC honors.
Seniors Eli Carter, Ann McArn, Kayla Penrod and Maddie Storr and sophomore Kate Naugle all received the honor.
Freshman Kiersten Schultz led the Polar Bears in scoring with 14 goals and 18 points, while junior Sydney Skelding was second with 12 goals and 17 points to go with a team-best five assists.
Senior Ann McArn had 10 goals and 13 points and led the team with 16 ground balls and 21 draw controls.
In goal, senior Kelli Hill was 3-2 with 48 saves and an 8.78 goals against average.
The NCAA granted a fifth year of eligibility for all spring sports athletes and some of ONU's six seniors may return in 2021.
Storr is one of the seniors that graduated and ends her career as ONU's all-time career leader in goals (99), points (121), man-up goals (10), shots (223), shots on goal (178) and hat tricks (19).
Senior Kelli Hill also graduated as ONU's saves leader with 371 and in minutes played in goal with 2031:08.
Senior Eli Carter graduated and finished her career with 35 goals, six assists and 41 points in 51 games.
"We have a good core of players returning for next season," Hemminger said. "Some of our seniors have indicated that they may come back for a fifth season, we have two juniors ready to step into leadership roles as seniors in 2021 and we are excited about the continued development of our freshmen and sophomores."