SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Junior
Emma Krasinski notched a career-high four-goal performance, including the eventual game winner midway through the fourth quarter, to pace Wofford in the midst of a furious second-half comeback and secure the program's inaugural Big South victory over Presbyterian (2-9, 0-3 Big South), 13-12, at Gibbs Stadium on Wednesday evening. The Terriers dominated over the final 30 minutes, holding the Blue Hose to just two second-half goals, to move to 3-7 overall and 1-2 in league play.
Krasinski, a junior from Atlanta, Ga., led the charge offensively for the Terriers, notching career-highs of four goals and eight draw controls – becoming the third Terrier this season to match the program-high draw control mark – in addition to two ground balls.
The performance vaults Krasinski to ranking second on the team in goals (14) and draw controls (24).
Juniors
Leah Hurley and
Olivia Abé recorded hat tricks with three goals apiece, marking the third and second occurrences doing so this season for Hurley and Abé, respectively. Senior attacker
Ally Furnari tallied two goals and an assist to pair with two ground balls, while two-time Big South freshman of the week
Carley Irvin added a goal, three ground balls and two draw controls. Senior
Elisabeth Ralph and freshman
Mia McCarthy added assists in the win.
Defensively, senior
Emma Seif forced a career-best three turnovers while scooping three ground balls, as freshman
Kirsten Flannigan followed with three ground balls and two caused turnovers.
Ella Smithers received the win, coming up with a huge save on a final PC free-position attempt with just six seconds left, while
Aislinn Washburn added a pair of saves in the match.
The Blue Hose opened the match with a first-half draw control advantage, 12-7, though, the tables turned in the second half to see a 7-3 edge in the draw circle, including a 5-1 advantage in the third, in favor of the Terriers to fuel the comeback.
The Terriers applied pressure over the final 30 minutes, finishing with a 35-22 shot differential and 24-15 advantage in ground balls throughout the match.
After trailing 10-7 at halftime, the Terriers opened the half with a relentless 4-0 run to take their first lead of the match by the 2:20 mark of the third quarter, 11-10.
Krasinski would bring the match within one, netting consecutive goals with 9:17 remaining in the frame to trail 10-9 prior to
Ally Furnari finding the equalizer just a minute later for a 10-10 deadlock (8:29). A six-minute scoring drought ensued for both squads up until
Shannon Wulff would disrupt a Blue Hose clear attempt that went on to see
Leah Hurley break a defender down one-on-one to zip the go-ahead goal in for the 11-10 edge. Shortly after, Presbyterian would knot the score up to send the match tied up at 11-all heading into the final frame.
Things heated up over the final 15 minutes, seeing both teams battle relentlessly for a go-ahead opportunity, as freshman
Carley Irvin would capitalize on a PC foul to reclaim the advantage on a free-position shot, 12-11, with 8:34 on the clock. From there, Krasinski took matters into her own hands, using the hot hand to rifle her fourth goal of the evening unassisted for the eventual winner and two-goal cushion with 7:26 to play.
Wofford held steady defensively throughout the duration prior to PC's Ava Ward, who led the Blue Hose with three goals, finding the back of the net to trail 12-11 with just 2:56 remaining. Down the stretch, a costly turnover with 22 seconds left allowed the Blue Hose to successfully clear for a final equalizer chance.
The Terriers successfully defended a pair of last-chance looks, though, a yellow card from
Addison Witkowski on the shot set up a free-position attempt for PC's Abby Edmisten with six seconds on the clock. On the whistle, Edmisten ripped a final shot to see
Ella Smithers bat the attempt down and
Kirsten Flannigan scoop the ground ball to ultimately secure the conference victory seconds later at the horn.
Wofford (3-7, 1-2 Big South) carries the momentum into another crucial league matchup this Saturday, April 9, as the Terriers will travel to Boiling Springs, N.C., to face Gardner-Webb for a 1 p.m. match.
