SPARTANBURG, S.C.- In the first ever meeting between the Valkyries and the Fighting Koalas it did not disappoint in non-conference lacrosse action on Monday afternoon.  Converse trailed 11-7 to Columbia (S.C.) before the Valkyries completed the comeback to win 14-12.

With Converse (7-6) leading 13-12 with 4:12 remaining in the match Columbia (6-5) was given a free position attempt.  Jessi Walters (Fort Mill, S.C.) in the cage came up with the biggest save in her short career sealing the deal for the Valkyries.

Columbia led 11-7 with just over 21 minutes remaining in the match.  A Converse timeout energized the Valkyries to bring the match to within one goal at 11-10 in just six minutes.  The Valkyrie rally gained momentum after Sydnie Hickey (Baltimore, Md.) gained control of the draw and scored.  Just over a minute later Chelsea Worrell (Orlando, Fla.) scored on a free position shot to cut the deficit down to 11-9.

The Valkyries caused a turnover off the clear attempt and capitalized.  Sydnie Hickey picked up the ground ball and struck again for her fourth goal of the match.  Columbia pushed the lead out again to 12-10 with 12:20 remaining in the match.

Chelsea Worrell posted her fourth and fifth goals of the match within 50 seconds of each other to tie things at 12-all with 5:43 remaining.

Laura Starkes (Whiby, Ontario) gave the Valkyries the lead for the first time since the 16:16 mark of the first half with the score at 5-4.  Starkes took control of the draw and passed it up to Hickey.  Starkes took the pass back from Hickey and found the back of the net for the game winner.  Starkes gave the Valkyries a cushion scoring another goal to ice the match.

Chelsea Worrell (28) and Sydnie Hickey (16) recorded hat-tricks in the match with Worrell notching five goals and Hickey scoring four.  Aubrie Lauderdale (11) and Laura Starkes (17) tallied two goals apiece.  Madison Butler (6) (Tampa, Fla.) scored once.  Hickey and Lauderdale recorded an assist in the win.

Jessi Walters (1-0) picked up the win in the cage recording one save.  Converse converted 10-10 clears in the match.  Hickey led the Valkyries with six ground balls and four caused turnovers.  The Valkyries used nine draw controls to score eight goals in the second half.  The Valkyries trailed 7-6 at the break.

Converse hosts Reinhardt, April 3 at 3:30 pm.  Alex Gurecki, Sydnie Hickey, and Kayla Duran will be honored for Senior Day.