Tigers roll into AAC LAX Semifinals

Georgetown took on Tennessee Wesleyan in the opening round of the 2024 AAC Lacrosse Tournament on Thursday. After a slow start in the opening 4 minutes, Georgetown scored 8 straight goals and never looked back in a 20-8 win.

Madison Diaz started off her monster day with the opening goal just 14 seconds after winning the opening draw control. TWU answered just 27 seconds later to tie. Katerina Gilbert countered back with the first of her 6 goals on the day with 13:28 left in the 1st to put the Tigers back on top. The Bulldogs countered with 2 straight and took a 3-2 lead over Georgetown with 11:03 to go in the 1st. The Diaz-Gilbert combo had seen enough. The two hooked up on the tying goal with 8:42 to go. Gilbert then scored on a free position shot with 6:51 left to give Georgetown the lead at 4-3. Diaz followed suit just 37 seconds later. Saydee Bottoms got in on the act at the 5:56 mark for a 6-3 GC lead. Diaz fired 2 more home in the quarter and with goals from Hannah Voss and another from Gilbert, Georgetown had 10 goals in the 1st and a 10-3 lead going to the 2nd.

Tennessee Wesleyan scored twice to start the second to keep things interesting. Georgetown had the answer as Melanie Wieland scored twice in 90 seconds, sandwiched around another Gilbert goal. The 3-0 run gave Georgetown a 13-5 lead midway through the 3rd. TWU again scored 2 in a row to hang around, but Saydee Bottoms and Melanie Wieland rounded out the scoring in the 2nd as the Tigers took a 15-7 lead to halftime.

TWU again scored early in the 3rd. A goal 46 seconds in brought the Bulldogs within 15-8. It would also prove to be their last on the day. Georgetown's defense tightened up from there as the offense kept coming. Georgetown scored 5 more the rest of the way for the final 12-goal margin.

Madison Diaz had her best offensive day of the season with 6 goals on 6 shots and an assist. She also controlled the midfield with 6 ground balls, 6 draw controls and 3 caused turnovers. Katerina Gilbert's 6 goals were also a season-high to go along with 2 assists. She also added 3 draw controls. Melanie Wieland scored a hat trick to go with 5 ground balls and 3 caused turnovers.

The Tigers now turn their attention to Friday's Semifinal against #1 Reinhardt. Georgetown fell to Reinhardt in the regular-season matchup by an 18-6 final. The opening draw is set for Noon on the campus of the University of the Cumberlands.

(Photo Courtesy: University of the Cumberlands Athletics)