HICKORY, N.C. – Gannon scored the final five goals on Wednesday afternoon to earn an 11-8 win over Lenoir-Rhyne in non-conference action in Hickory, North Carolina.
 
Gannon goalkeeper Kendra Delissio (Export, Pa./Franklin Regional) came into the game after halftime and didn't surrender a goal following an 8-goal performance by the Bears in the opening half to send the home team to the locker room with an 8-6 lead. Delissio recorded five saves in the final 30 minutes to keep her clean sheet intact.
 
Trailing 8-6, Alli Jacobs (Eden, N.Y./Eden) (14:45), Caroline Stevens (Syracuse, N.Y./Liverpool) (8:42) and McKenna Woodworth (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads) (6:07) netted goals in the third quarter to give Gannon the lead for good. Woodworth's game-clincher was her fourth of the day as the sophomore netted three goals in the opening half.
 
Woodworth was also credited with Gannon's lone assist of the day when she helped set up Rachel Tufts (Erie, Pa./McDowell) fourth-quarter goal at the 9:28 mark. Macy Hepditch (Waterloo, Ontario/Resurrection Catholic) wrapped up the scoring three minutes later on an unassisted goal with 6:27 to play.
 
In the first quarter, the teams traded goals in a high-scoring 15 minutes that ended with the Bears leading 4-3 following a goal by LR's Suzy Smith at the 1:19 mark. Gannon's three first quarter goals were scored by Woodworth, Hepditch and Tufts.
 
Early in the second, Gannon netted back-to-back goals to give the Knights their first lead of the day at 5-4 with 11:50 remaining in the first half. Lenoir-Rhyne answered with goals at the 10:07 and 8:07 marks, allowing the Bears to quickly regain the lead.
 
Woodworth would provide an equalizer at the 3:26 mark to tie the game at 6-6, but the Bears answered again with a pair of late second-quarter goals by Smith and Ellie Campbell to gain their 8-6 halftime advantage.
 
In addition to five points from Woodworth (4 goals, one assist), the Knights also got two goals apiece from Stevens, Tufts and Hepditch. Jacobs also netted a goal. Lenoir-Rhyne was led by three goals apiece from Smith and Campbell. Jolan Morey also netted a goal to go with two assists for the Bears.
 
Statistically, Gannon held a 31-21 advantage in total shots, including a 24-15 edge in shots on goal.
 
The Knights (1-1, 0-0 PSAC) will remain in North Carolina for one more matchup before returning from its spring break trip this weekend. Gannon will battle Catawba on Saturday at 12 noon in Salisbury, N.C.