FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Davenport opened up their 2017 campaign against the number two ranked team in the country. SCAD-Savannah was a team that Davenport played during two different national tournament semifinal games last season. The Panthers were down 8-5 at the half and fought back to tie the game 9-9 early in the second half. SCAD-Savannah was able to pull out two goals in the last three minutes of play to take the 13-11 win.
 
THE BASICS
Final Score: #1 Davenport-11 | #2 SCAD-Savannah-13
Location: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Record: Davenport 0-1 | SCAD 3-0
 
GOALS PER HALF
First half: DU-5 | SCAD-8
Second half: DU-6 | SCAD-5
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Davenport got on the board first with a goal by Tara Pluger and another one by Taylor Ries to take an early 2-0 lead. The Panthers jumped out to a 3-0 lead after senior Brooke Knoll scored a goal that was assisted by Pluger. SCAD, who had played two games previous to this match-up, scored three un-answered goals to tie the game with 21:04 left in the half. The Bees strung another four goals together from the 17:35 mark to the 9:20 mark to take a 7-3 lead. Davenport was able to cut the lead down to three goals at the half with late goals by Knoll and Jessica Lemcke.
 
Coach Rob Harris sparked something in his girls during halftime as they came out and scored two un-answered goals to cut the lead to one goal. Pluger and Ries were responsible for the goals. SCAD was able to squeeze in a goal at the 20:36 mark, but Davenport continued their offensive pressure and scored two more goals to tie the game 9-9 with 17:04 remaining. Both teams traded goals over the next ten minutes. The score was tied 11-11 with 7:13 left in the game after a goal by Knoll. The Bees were able to score two goals down the stretch to take the 13-11 win.
 
INSIDE THE BOX
Maeve Sweeney (GB, 4 CT, DC)
Lemcke (2 G, A, 3 P, GB, 3 DC)
Pluger (3 G, 3 A, 6 P, 2 GB)
Knoll (3 G, 2 A, 5 P, 2 GB, DC)
Ries (2 G, 2 P, DC)
Samantha Powers (7 S)
Alex Yates (6 S)
 
UP NEXT
Davenport will take on Ave Maria University on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. down in Florida.

Story by: Devin Steiner

Photo credit: Tyler Triemstra