By Liam Owen
USW Women’s lacrosse 1sts fought valiantly to produce a vastly improved performance despite an 8-5 defeat to Cardiff University 3rd’s.
A hat-trick from Amber Madox-Moore, and goals from Danielle Mcbean and Nienke Ten Berge were not enough to end USW’s winless start to the campaign.
In what was an end-to-end 70 minutes, Cardiff started the better of the two teams as they went 2-0 up with two close-range finishes by Orla Williams.
Despite Cardiff ’s strong start to the opening quarter, USW were given a lifeline thanks to a stunning long range effort from star player Madox-Moore in the 13th minute to reduce the deficit to just one goal.
However, USW’s goal joy was short-lived as the visitors scored straight from the restart as Williams bagged a third.
Things went from bad to worse for USW as goalkeeper Chloe Summers could not stop the visitors’ close range effort in the 16th minute.
But despite going 4-1 behind, there was no effect on the confidence and resilience of the home team and in particular Maddox-Moore as she scored a double within three minutes to reduce the deficit to one early in the second quarter.
Cardiff University captain Charlotte Warne and Williams, with her fourth goal, stretched the Cardiff advantage to 6-3.
USW, hit back through Danielle McBean and Nienke Ten Berge, but an injury to Maddox-Moore did not help their cause.
Rachel Townsend added to Cardiff’s tally in the 55th minute to condemn USW to a fourth straight defeat, albeit with plenty of positives.
The home team have the opportunity to end their dismal run of form when they face Cardiff Met’s 1sts in an away fixture in a fortnight’s time – and they will certainly take confidence from this performance.