HARRISONBURG, Va. - The Royals women's lacrosse team opened the 2025 season on a blustery Tuesday evening, welcoming in the Knights of Southern Virginia. 

The Royals led after the first quarter, but a 5-0 SVU second quarter was the difference as the Knights picked up a 12-9 win. 

Records: EMU 0-1, 0-0 ODAC | Southern Virginia 1-0, 0-0 USA South

Highlights

First Quarter

• The Royals wasted no time getting on the board. Courtney Crawford won the opening draw, took the ball into the SVU defensive zone and, after getting around a defender going to her right, put a shot on cage that beat the keeper low and to the right to give EMU a 1-0 lead. 
• Less than 30 seconds later, Ava Walker found Crawford, who once again went to her right and beat the keeper, putting the Royals on top 2-0. At the 11:50 mark, Walker got in on the scoring, when she took a pass from Ainsley Clark and beat the Knights keeper to her left, for her first collegiate goal and a 3-0 EMU advantage. 
• Southern Virginia pulled within one after a free position goal with just under 10 minutes left, followed by another goal just 40 seconds later. Walker pushed EMU's lead back to two when she scored her second of the game, off a pass from Crawford, for a 4-2 lead. But the Knights were able to add a goal with just one second remaining in the first, pulling to within one at the end of one. 

Second Quarter

• The Knights tied it up 19 seconds into the frame, and took the lead at the 10:47 mark. SVU would add three more goals in the quarter, and EMU wouldn't be able to cut into the Knights lead, despite peppering the SVU keeper with four shots. 

Third Quarter

• Narciso came up with another save in the third, holding the Knights to just two goals. EMU was able to get back on the board in the eighth minute when Crawford recorded her second assist, this time finding the stick of Angel Hines who put her shot on cage past the SVU keeper. 

Fourth Quarter

• The Royals outscored SVU 3-2 in the fourth, with the first goal coming on a free position shot from Amber Bonds. But, with EMU trailing by three at 10-7, Southern Virginia netted a pair to push their lead back to five. 
• EMU was able to pick up two more goals in the frame, with Alex Palizzi scoring with an assist from Clark with just over seven minutes left. But unfortunately for EMU, their final goal, a man-up goal from Bailey Freeman, which was her first collegiate goal, wouldn't come until the game's final seconds, as SVU secured the win.

Statistical Leaders
Walker: 2 goals, 2 assists, 3 ground balls, 4 draw controls
Crawford: 2 goals, 2 assists,  2 ground balls, 3 draw controls
Narciso: 7 saves
Bonds: 1 goal, 2 ground balls, 3 draw controls

What's Next
EMU will hit the road for their first away contest of the season, as they head to Hood College on Saturday. First draw against the Blazers is set for 2 pm. 

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