SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse University lacrosse team scored early and often against Lees-McRae on Saturday afternoon as they walked away with an 18-8 victory over the Bobcats at Weisiger Stadium.
 
Converse improves to 7-5 overall and 3-1 in Conference Carolinas action this season, while Lees-McRae drops to 2-6 overall and 2-4 in conference play. The Valkyries seven wins are the most since the 2019 lacrosse season. The victory also snapped a two-game losing streak to the Bobcats and the Valkyries are now 8-7 in the overall series against the Bobcats.  
 
Brenna Everette, Ryleigh Schaeffer and Hailey Obenchain have now recorded five or more points in back-to-back games this week. Everette led the team with five goals, Schaeffer was second on the team with four goals and Obenchain finished with a hat trick. Obenchain also led the team with four assists which is a mark she has hit at least four times this season. Reagan Collins led the team with 7 saves on the afternoon and is now two saves away from a 100 save season.
 
Everette and the rest of the Valkyries were ready to go from the start as the senior midfielder scored the first four goals of the game in less than six minutes of game time. The Valkyries offense continued to pour it on as Schaeffer, Cassidy O'Neill and Gencie Coan all added goals to make it a 7-0 contest against Lees-McRae.
 
The Bobcats finally got on the board with 2:43 to play in the first quarter with a goal by Shannan Korovich. Rhianna Warner tacked on a goal towards the end of the period to give the Valkyries a commanding 8-1 advantage heading into the second quarter of play.
 
Korovich scored the first goal of the second quarter to make it an 8-2 contest, but the Valkyries quickly countered with goals by Obenchain and Warner to make it an 11-2 game. The Bobcats outscored the Valkyries 3-1 down the stretch but the Valkyries led 12-5 going into the halftime intermission.
 
In the second half the Valkyries outscored the Bobcats 6-1 and picked up their second double-digit victory of the week. Converse outshot Lees-McRae 49-17 overall and 40-15 in shots on goal. The Valkyries also won the ground ball battle 27-17 and won the draw control 18-11 over the Bobcats.
 
Scoring Breakdown
1^st Quarter:

• 14:15, Brenna Everette, unassisted, 1-0 Converse
• 11:12, Brenna Everette, unassisted, 2-0 Converse
• 10:08, Brenna Everette, assisted by Ryleigh Schaeffer, 3-0 Converse
• 9:10, Brenna Everette, unassisted, 4-0 Converse
• 7:15, Cassidy O'Neill, assisted by Hailey Obenchain, 5-0 Converse
• 5:36, Ryleigh Schaeffer, unassisted, 6-0 Converse
• 2:50, Gencie Coan, assisted by Hailey Obenchain, 7-0 Converse
• 2:43, Shannan Korovich, unassisted, 7-1 Converse
• 2:09, Rhianna Warner, unassisted, 8-1 Converse

 
 
2^nd Quarter:

• 13:33, Shannan Korovich, unassisted, 8-2 Converse
• 11:41, Hailey Obenchain, assisted by Brenna Everette, 9-2 Converse
• 10:47, Rhianna Warner, assisted by Hailey Obenchain, 10-2 Converse
• 8:20, Hailey Obenchain, unassisted, 11-2 Converse
• 6:03, Shannan Korovich, unassisted, 11-3 Converse
• 4:38, Shannan Korovich, unassisted, 11-4 Converse
• 3:29, Karter Lauer, assisted by Rhianna Warner, 12-4 Converse
• 00:40, Genesis Lutsky, assisted by Shannan Korovich, 12-5 Converse

 
3^rd Quarter:

• 9:58, Ryleigh Schaeffer, unassisted, 13-5 Converse
• 8:07, Hailey Smith, unassisted, 13-6 Converse
• 2:40, Ryleigh Schaeffer, unassisted, 14-6 Converse
• 00:28, Brenna Everette, assisted by Hailey Obenchain, 15-6 Converse

 
4^th Quarter:

• 12:59, Ryleigh Schaeffer, assisted by Samantha Sparks, 16-6 Converse
• 9:45, Ainsley Cua, unassisted, 17-6 Converse
• 7:39, Mckenzie Mellen, assisted by Shannan Korovich, 17-7 Converse
• 4:58, Hailey Obenchain, assisted by Madelyn Robinson, 18-7 Converse
• 00:01, Mckenzie Mellen, unassisted, 18-8 Converse

 
Notables:
 
Points – Obenchain (7), Everette (6), Schaeffer (5), Warner (3)
 
Goals – Everette (5), Schaeffer (4), Obenchain (3), Warner (2)
 
Assists – Obenchain (4)
 
Saves – Collins (7)
 
Next Up:

• Converse will have a few days off before hosting Emmanuel on Wednesday evening at 6:00 p.m. at Weisiger Stadium.  

 
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