YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | Most Outstanding Player Rachel Lepine scored five goals as Young Harris College defeated the University of Alabama in Huntsville 17-7 in the Gulf South Conference Women's Lacrosse Invitational Tournament championship game Sunday (April 24) afternoon at the YHC Soccer and Lacrosse Field.
 
The Mountain Lions, which also claimed the league's regular-season title, finished the 2016 campaign with a 13-5 ledger. The 13 victories are the program's short four-year history, while the Chargers ended their inaugural season finished with a 14-4 mark.
 
Young Harris started the championship match the way they ended the regular season meeting with UAH.
 
The Mountain Lions, who scored the final eight goals in their 17-16 win over the Chargers earlier this season, jumped out to a 7-1 lead over the first 17 minutes. Lepine scored three goals during the outburst while All-Tournament performer Sarah Bialecki scored twice. Kendra Parenteau and Maddie Peek accounted for the other YHC scores during the decisive run.
 
"I am so proud of the way the team played today," said GSC Coach of the Year Katie Ziek. "We were ready from the first whistle and knew that we couldn't let up our intensity. We executed our game plan with teamwork, hustle, determination and heart. It was our day today, I couldn't be more proud."
 
UAH scored two of the next three goals to close the match to 8-3 at the half, but any hopes of a Charger comeback were quashed when the Mountain Lions opened the first five minutes of the second half by scoring the first five goals – two from Parenteau and one each by Jaclyn Kernohan, Taylor Lincoln and Bialecki – to hold a 13-3 advantage.
 
Bialecki and Parenteau each finished with four goals for the Mountain Lions while Jaclyn Kernohan, Kaylynn Roach, Peek and Lincoln found the back of the net once. Bialecki led the way for Young Harris with four assists while Kernohan and Parenteau added two each.
 
All-Tournament performer Meghan Tonnesen was a beast for the Mountain Lions as she collected nine draw controls. Lincoln led Young Harris with eight ground balls while Hannah Sacristan and Erika Cross each scooped up four and Channing Milford had three. Cross also caused six turnovers while Lincoln tallied three.
 
All-Tournament performer Julia Darroch stopped nine shots in goal for the Mountain Lions.
 
YHC's Ivey Franklin was also selected to the All-Tournament team for Young Harris.