ROME- Backed by a record-setting day in goal from Alley Jones, the Shorter Hawks earned their first victory of the 2026 season in a 15-7 win over Southern Wesleyan Tuesday afternoon. The win improves the Hawks to 1-7 overall and 1-2 in conference play. 

The Hawks got on the board in the first 30 seconds with a quick goal from Alicia Nguyen. Shorter continued to score with ease as Cassidy Jones and Kaitlyn Dwyer-Peppers found the net to make it an early 3-0 lead for Shorter. The visitors eventually got on the board towards the end of the quarter, scoring two goals to make it a one-point lead for the Hawks after one. 

Much like the first quarter, Shorter got on the board quickly, this time in just 27 seconds as Nguyen found Anderlyn Buford for a goal. The remainder of the period proved to be a defensive battle as Alley Jones anchored the Hawks by performing well in goal. The Hawks tacked on two more goals in the final minutes of the frame, as Maggie Wallace scored followed by Jones to make it 6-4 heading into half. 

The Warriors cut into the lead in the third, scoring two goals with another defensive battle brewing. The Hawks broke the silence with a goal from Shyla Araujo and another from Dwyer-Peppers to make it 10-6 heading into the fourth. 

The Hawks' offense was flawless in the final quarter, outscoring the Warriors 5-1, backed by strong play in goal from Alley Jones and great offensive production from Cassidy Jones, which helped give the Hawks the 15-7 win, their first victory of the 2026 season. Alley Jones recorded a Shorter record 26 saves on the night, showcasing her dominance in the net. 

Notable Performances

Cassidy Jones: four goals, two assists, two ground balls, two draw controls
Anderlyn Buford: three goals, three assists, two ground balls
Kaitlyn Dwyer-Peppers: three goals, two ground balls
Alley Jones: 26 saves

UP NEXT

Shorter will be back at it next Wednesday as they travel to face Young Harris for a 5:00 PM match. 

FOLLOW THE HAWKS
For complete coverage of Shorter Women's Lacrosse, follow the Hawks on social media @Shorterwomenslax  (Instagram) or visit the official home of Shorter athletics at goshorterhawks.com