ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. -- The Meredith College Avenging Angels lacrosse team dominated the second period in Saturday's USA South Tournament Championship to claim the program's third consecutive conference crown. The 2016 Player of the Year Carlee Joseph scored a bevy of goals to drive the Angels' attack and earned the tournament's Most Valuable Player award for her efforts.

After a slow start during the first 30 minutes of play, MC Lax found new strategies in the second half to find the gap in a tenacious Piedmont defense. The Lions opened the match with back-to-back goals, and Jennifer Halvorson and Katie Burnet followed with one apiece to tie the game at 21:12.

But Piedmont continued to pressure the Angels and netted the next four goals to take a 6-2 lead. The team's continued to battle for an advantage, and Joseph found the cage twice more before the end of the period to pull Meredith back to within one heading into the break.

To open the second stanza, Lion Cahner Manns drove in for a quick score to extend PC's lead to two in the first 28 seconds of the period.

But Meredith's new strategy was in place, and the Avenging Angels launched a 5-0 rally that changed the momentum for good. The Angels' defense, led by Cameron Ruffin, Sarah Arbes, and Haley-Anne Parish, added to Piedmont's punishment allowing the Lions to score just three goals throughout the 30-minute frame for the victory.

Joseph led all with eight goals in eight attempts on goal, and Burnet followed with five points on four goals, one assist to go along with a team-high six draw controls. Victoria Doyle notched three points, four caused turnovers, and three groundballs, while Arbes and Ruffin combined for six groundballs, three caused turnovers.

Katie Sills had a breakout performance in goal for the Angels with four saves, five groundballs, and a pair of caused turnovers for her 16th win on the year. Piedmont's Blake Forrest took the loss with five deflections in the cage.

Maggie McDaniel led the Lions' offense with five goals, one assist, and four draw controls, and Caitlin O'Brien led all with seven draw controls.

The Avenging Angels face off with the Lynchburg Hornets Saturday, April 23, as they await an announcement of the NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Tournament pairings. This marks Meredith's third consecutive automatic qualifier, and the Angels look to advance beyond the opening round.

Tournament Website | Tournament Bracket

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Attack
Carlee Joseph, Meredith (MVP)
Molly Miller, Meredith
Mckynsey Douglas, Piedmont

Midfielder
Ashlynn Parks, Greensboro
Katie Burnet, Meredith
Victoria Doyle, Meredith
Holy Hite, Meredith
Maggie McDaniel, Piedmont

Defense
Julianna Surgent, Piedmont
Cameron Ruffin, Meredith
Sarah Arbes, , Meredith

Goalkeeper
Katie Sills, Meredith