(RALEIGH, NC) - The championship of the 2023 USA South Women's Lacrosse tournament has been decided as top-seed, and host, Meredith held off second-seeded Southern Virginia, 11-10, to earn its ninth consecutive tournament crown.

The first quarter was a defensive battle as each goalie, Southern Virginia's Jessica Webb and Meredith's Madeline Horrell, held the teams to just one goal each. The second quarter saw the Avenging Angels assert its authority by out-scoring the Knights by six goals to take an 8-2 lead into halftime. Southern Virginia would answer back in the third quarter, scoring the first three goals before Meredith notched three straight of their own. The Avenging Angels would eventually take an 11-6 lead into the final stanza. Southern Virginia would not go down without a fight as it scored all four goals in the fourth quarter, including climbing within one score with 3:30 remaining, but it would not be enough as Meredith held on.

Leading the way offensively for Meredith was Jessica Dowdy who notched four goals with one assist to go along with a game-high six draw controls. Tori Witmer added three goals while Frannie Rosone, Lauryn Turner, and Horrell added four ground balls each. For the Knights, Kiah Baisden scored a game-high five goals, Faaletupu Mulitalo grabbed a game-high five ground balls, and Josie Skopec collected a team-best five draw controls.

For her efforts during the tournament, Meredith's Dowdy was named the most valuable player as she totaled 11 goals, one assist, 21 draw controls, five draw controls, and four caused turnovers in three games played.

Please visit the Tournament Website and Tournament Bracket for any further information.

Women's Lacrosse All-Tournament Team

Attack
Alissa Johnson, Southern Virginia
Piper Searle, Southern Virginia
Reese Walker, Meredith
Tori Witmer, Meredith

Midfield
Kiah Baisden, Southern Virginia
Jessica Dowdy, Meredith (MVP)
Kennedy Martin, Methodist
Kylie Phillips, Meredith

Defender
Faaletupu Mulitalo, Southern Virginia
Frannie Rosone, Meredith
Josie Skoper, Southern Virginia

Goalkeeper
Madeline Horrell, Meredith

Women's Lacrosse Tournament Results

First Round (played at higher-seeded team in each game)
Game 1, Monday May 1: #7 Huntingdon - 2   #2 Southern Virginia - 21
Game 2, Monday, May 1: #5 Brevard - 8   #4 Methodist - 23
Game 3, Tuesday, May 2: #8 N.C. Wesleyan - 0   #1 Meredith - 20
Game 4, Tuesday, May 2: #6 Pfeiffer - 9   #3 Piedmont - 18

Semifinals, Friday, May 5 (played at Meredith College)
#4 Methodist - 6   #1 Meredith - 22
#3 Piedmont  - 12   #2 Southern Virginia - 20

Championship - Saturday, May 6 (played at Meredith College)
#2 Southern Virginia - 10   #1 Meredith - 11