Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Athletics

WLAX 2026 Team Photo
10
Embry-Riddle (FL) ERAU 12-6
17
Winner Tampa UT 13-5
Embry-Riddle (FL) ERAU
12-6
10
Final
17
Tampa UT
13-5
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Embry-Riddle (FL) ERAU 3 1 2 4 10
Tampa UT 4 5 3 5 17

Game Recap: #9 Women's Lacrosse | | Zach Phillips

No. 9 Women’s Lacrosse Late Rally Falls Short in Opening Round of National Tournament

AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The 2026 Embry-Riddle women's lacrosse season came to an end on Thursday morning after a 17-10 loss in the first round of the national tournament to Tampa. The two teams got off to a quick start, combining for four goals inside the first three minutes. However, five consecutive goals to begin the second quarter was enough for the Spartans to survive a late rally in the fourth quarter from the Eagles as the two teams fought for a spot in the second round. 

RECORDS:
Embry-Riddle: 12-6
Tampa: 13-5
 
GAME NOTES
  • Embry-Riddle finishes the season as the No. 9 ranked team in the IWLCA Division II national poll (May 4).
  • The Spartans now lead the all-time series 8-1 over the Eagles. The last win for the Blue and Gold came on March 29, 2025 when they beat UT, 15-14.
  • This is the second consecutive year that ERAU has qualified for the national tournament, earning a 20-14 win over Mount Olive in the opening round last season.

KEY PERFORMERS
Embry-Riddle Tampa
  • Player 1: Mary Kate Person - 4 G, 1 A, 5 SOG, 2 GB
  • Player 2: Peyton Howell - 4 G, 8 SOG, 2 GB, 1 CT
  • Player 3: Jenna Myhal - 3 G, 1 A, 4 SOG, 2 GB, 1 CT

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
  • Embry-Riddle controlled the opening draw through Ashley Albert and opened the scoring less than a minute into the game with a goal from Ava Rogala at 14:05. 
  • The Spartans would tie the game up just 15 seconds later, and after adding another pair of goals, led 3-1 with still 12:30 left to play in the quarter.
  • Natalie Jansky scored to cut the Eagles' deficit in half but a second goal of the quarter from Jenna Myhal restored their two-goal lead at 4-2.
  • Jansky added another point to her season tally after assisting Eliana Enners for a man-up goal at 5:04. Neither team would score in the final five minutes as the quarter ended, 4-3.
Second Quarter
  • Tampa opened the period with a pair of goals from Josie Bullock and Mary Kate Person, extending their advantage to 6-3 with 11:17 on the clock.
  • A trio of saves from Ella-Rae Cox for the Blue and Gold gave the SSC Goalkeeper of the Year eight first-half saves, including five in the first quarter.
  • Three goals in a two-minute stretch from UT saw them take their largest lead of the game at 9-3, but ERAU would hold them scoreless over the final 6:43.
  • Callison Foreman provided Embry-Riddle with some momentum heading into halftime when she scored with 2:17 remaining, giving us a 9-4 halftime score.
Third Quarter
  • Similarly to the first half, the Eagles won the draw and scored an early goal. Caitlin Gavin scored from a free position shot to make the game, 9-5, at 13:58.
  • Tampa's two leading goalscorers each found the back of the net a minute apart from each other, extending their lead to 11-5.
  • The early goals continued to come with Foreman scoring the fourth goal of the quarter inside the first five minutes, making it 11-6 with 10:15 remaining.
  • As the two defenses began to settle in, they combined to force nine turnovers in the final 10 minutes while only conceding one goal which came from the Spartans.
Fourth Quarter
  • Enners scored a free position goal to give us a 12-7 scoreline, her team-high 55th goal of the season.
  • However, Tampa had back-to-back goals from eight meters out as well, going ahead 14-7 with 9:39 remaining. 
  • After a timeout, ERAU would respond quickly through Enners who scored at 8:42 off of another assist from Jansky.
  • Foreman then found the back of the net just 42 seconds later to make the game, 14-9. Aubrey Schmidt continued to cut into the UT lead, giving us a four-goal game after she scored with 6:33 still on the clock.
  • As the Blue and Gold aggressively pushed for another goal, the Spartans were able to capitalize, scoring three goals in the final three minutes, giving us a final scoreline of 17-10.

INSIDE THE STATS
  • Reese Borrell, Natalie Jansky, Sophia Bordone, Eliana Enners, and Ella-Rae Cox finish the season as the only five players to start all 18 games. 
  • ERAU went 2-for-2 on free position shots this afternoon, continuing an efficient season where they have now scored on 56.5% of those opportunities, a top 10 mark in the nation.
  • Jansky and Callison Foreman finish the season as the only two players to record at least 20 goals and 20 assists. Foreman ends her career with 198 career points.
  • Ella-Rae Cox tied her season-high with 12 saves in the game, ending the season with 145 total saves.

PRESS CONFERENCE
Click here to watch the postgame press conference involving Head Coach Christina Nikolai, Ava Rogala, Jordan Davis, and Caitlin Gavin.
 
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