PAINESVILLE, Ohio -- The Lake Erie women's lacrosse team fought hard in their final game of the 2025 season on Thursday, ultimately falling to Thomas More by a score of 13-7. The two sides were evenly matched through much of the first half until the Saints surged with four goals in the final four minutes before halftime, taking a 9-4 lead into the break. That momentum shift proved too much to overcome, and despite a hard-nosed effort, the Storm couldn't mount a comeback. Lake Erie finishes the year with a 2-15 overall record, including a 1-7 mark in G-MAC play.

Game Recap

Thomas More jumped out to an early 2-0 lead before Brooke McNeal got the Storm on the board midway through the first quarter. The Saints stayed composed, though, tacking on two more goals to end the first up 4-1.

After a quiet start to the second quarter, Lake Erie struck fast—Madelyn Goodrich and Brooke McNeal found the back of the net within 29 seconds of each other to bring the Storm within one. Thomas More responded quickly, but Goodrich scored again with 4:26 left in the half to make it a 5-4 game. Unfortunately, the Saints caught fire in the closing minutes, rattling off four unanswered goals to seize a 9-4 lead at halftime.

Credit to the Storm for their relentless fight all season—Goodrich scored her third goal of the night right out of halftime to stop the bleeding. But Thomas More made key adjustments and put the game nearly out of reach at the 12-minute mark of the third, scoring three goals in just 37 seconds to go up 12-5. McNeal notched her third goal before the end of the quarter, joining Goodrich with a hat trick, but the Storm trailed 12-6 heading into the fourth.

Thomas More added one final tally early in the fourth, and McNeal capped off her stellar night with a fourth goal in the closing minutes. When the final horn sounded, Lake Erie's 2025 campaign officially came to a close, 13-7 the final.

Player Notes

• Brooke McNeal (4) and Madelyn Goodrich (3) accounted for all seven of the Storm goals tonight.

• McNeal finishes with 49 on the season, good for third-most in the conference and the most for Lake Erie in a single season since Anna Spin's 58 back in 2019.

• As for Goodrich, her 46 goals rank sixth in the G-MAC and up her career mark to 103.

• This dynamic duo poured in 95 goals total, the most for the Storm in a season since 2018 when Spin (65) and Anastasia Crawford (57) netted a combined 122.

• Shannon Smith and Bethany Kirkwood each grabbed four groundballs, while Corinne Shimek was close behind with three.

• Smith ends the season with 80 groundballs, not only the most in school history but in the history of the G-MAC!

• Smith also led the team with four forced turnovers, followed by Goodrich (3), Megan Schanz (2) and Isabella Morales (2).

• Smith's 38 caused turnovers this season led the team and rank her tied for third in the conference.

• Reese Friesen and Brooke McNeal each won two draw controls, pacing the team.

• Avery Artino started in goal for the Storm, racking up four saves in the first two periods before Bethany Kirkwood relieved her out of halftime.

• Kirkwood finished with three saves and four groundballs, then Ainsley Sutter played the final 6:55.

Team Notes

• Despite taking four fewer shots than the Saints (26-30), Lake Erie had 19 shots-on-goal to just 18 for the visitors.

• Thomas More additionally had more turnovers than the Storm (29-22) and less groundballs (21-18).

• Both teams were about the same on clears, with the Saints finishing slightly better, but they dominated on draw controls, winning 17 of the 23 total.

• Each side converted half of their free-position shots, with the Storm going 1/2 and the Saints finishing 2/4.

The Matchup

Thursday's game moves the all-time series to 3-1 in favor of Thomas More. Lake Erie's lone win came in 2023, a 15-7 victory.

Season Leaders

Goals: McNeal (49), Goodrich (46), Friesen (17), Rose (13)
Assists: Friesen (19), Goodrich (12), McNeal (11), Rose (4)
Points: McNeal (60), Goodrich (58), Friesen (36), Rose (17)
Free-Position Goals: McNeal (8), Goodrich (6), Rose (2), Shimek (1), Snyder (1)
Groundballs: Smith (80), McNeal (37), Morales (35), Goodrich (28), Davis (23)
Caused Turnovers: Smith (38), McNeal (20), Morales (16), Goodrich (10)
Draw Controls: McNeal (35), Davis (24), Friesen (23)
Saves: Artino (51), Sutter (34), Kirkwood (19)
Save %: Artino (30.9%), Sutter (30.1%), Kirkwood (24.7%)

Game Highs - Team

Points: 27 vs. Saginaw Valley
Goals: 18 vs. Saginaw Valley
Assists: 9 vs. Saginaw Valley
Shots: 40 vs. Northwood
Shots-on-goal: 34 vs. Northwood
Saves: 11 vs. Northwood
Groundballs: 35 vs. Davis & Elkins, Ursuline
Caused Turnovers: 23 vs. Ursuline
Clears: 28 vs. Davis & Elkins

Game Highs - Individual

Points: 9 – McNeal vs. Northwood
Goals: 9 – McNeal vs. Northwood
Assists: 4 – Friesen vs. Northwood
Shots: 17 – McNeal vs. Northwood
Shots-on-goal: 15 – McNeal vs. Northwood
Saves: 9 – Artino vs. Daemen
Groundballs: 10 – Smith vs. Davis & Elkins
Caused Turnovers: 5 – Smith vs. D'Youville and Findlay