YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | The Mountain Lions women's lacrosse team kicks off their quarterfinal matchup this afternoon (Apr. 22), hosting the fifth-seeded North Greenville Trailblazers here in the Valley as part of the 2025 Conference Carolinas Tournament. 

The Mountain Lions enter this quarterfinal face-off as the No. 3 seed, boasting a 10-6 overall record and a strong 7-2 mark in conference play. This isn't the first meeting between Young Harris and the Trailblazers—these two teams clashed earlier this season on Senior Day, where the Mountain Lions came out on top in a hard-fought 17-13 victory over North Greenville. 

Riley Parker powers the Young Harris offense, leading the way with an impressive 57 goals and 73 total points, solidifying her role as a cornerstone of the Mountain Lions' success. Brooklyn Kiest has been equally impactful, racking up 31 goals and 36 points to keep the pressure on opposing defenses. Mary Troy serves as the team's primary playmaker, dishing out a team-high 16 assists while also dominating the circle with 80 draw control wins. 

Ella Clifford leads the defensive unit with a commanding presence, notching 20 caused turnovers and 31 ground balls. Working alongside her, Hayden Hennessey adds to the defensive strength with 18 caused turnovers and 25 ground balls. The duo's consistent pressure and smart positioning make them a tough challenge for any opposing offense. 

The fifth-seeded NGU Trailblazers enter the tournament with a 7-9 overall record and a 5-3 mark in conference play. Leading their offense is Kylee Keen, who's posted 43 goals and 47 total points. She's backed by playmaker Ava Walls and second-leading scorer Kami Straub, who also controls the circle with a team-high 63 draw wins. 

The winner of today's quarterfinal advances to the semifinal round of the tournament, hosted by UMO on Friday.  

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The victor between Young Harris and North Greenville will move on to face No. 1 Belmont Abbey in the semifinals of the 2025 Conference Carolinas Women's Lacrosse Tournament.