SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Sophomore attack Sharlize Burgos posted a career-high six goals to go along with two assists, leading the Converse (2-2, 2-0 CC) lacrosse team to a 15-11 win over Lees-McRae (0-4, 0-2 CC) on Saturday morning at cold and blustery Fulp Field.

Flore Samsi and Kat Goldfuss chipped in three goals each, while Libby Stevens posted a pair of scores in the win. Victoria Bailey and Ciriaca Petitto grabbed five ground balls each. Samsi led the defense with four caused turnovers. Converse held a 24-18 advantage on shots, as well as 20-13 on groundballs.

Samsi got the scoring started for the Valkyries with her first goal of the game just over a minute in. That lead doubled 90 seconds later as Burgos found the back of the net for the initial time in the contest. However, Lees-McRae battled back to knot the score at 2-all with 22:25 remaining on the first period clock.

Over the next 9-plus minutes of game action, Converse erupted for five unanswered goals, including two from Burgos to push comfortably ahead 7-2. The two teams traded the next four goals and the Valkyries took a 9-4 lead into the halftime intermission.

Back-to-back goals by Mercedes Dempsey and Samsi pushed the Purple and Gold ahead 11-4 seven minutes into the second period. From that point the game became a back-and-forth affair as both teams traded goals.

Stevens scored her second time with 3:33 on the clock to give Converse the 14-8 advantage. Even though Lees-McRae outscored Converse 3-1 over the remainder of the contest, it was too little, too late as the Vals took home the 15-11 Conference Carolinas win.

The Valkyries will be back in action on Wednesday, March 13, traveling to nearby Belmont, N.C. to face the Crusaders of Belmont Abbey College. That contest is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.