Lacrosse Logs Five Straight Second Half Goals, Downs Detroit Mercy

Saturday, March 28

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

Noon

Central Michigan University

1-22-9; MAC

Detroit Mercy

0-30-8; MAC

Detroit Mercy

Central Michigan

Photo by: Addison Glascock '29 - @addisonglasphotography

Lacrosse Logs Five Straight Second Half Goals, Downs Detroit Mercy

3/28/2026 3:07:00 PM | Lacrosse

Box Score Photo Gallery

Kelsey Barratt logs career effort to lead balanced attack; Chippewas mark first league win under interim coach Katie Vahle

By: Harrison LaLone

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Central Michigan Lacrosse found the back of the net five straight times out of a 5-5 halftime tally en route to a 14-7 Mid-American Conference victory over Detroit Mercy Saturday, the highest-scoring effort of the season.

"We started off a little flat, but we really picked it up," interim coach Katie Vahle said. "Every quarter got better and better; they started to have a little fun."

The Chippewas recorded their first win in league play under Vahle who took the post on an interim basis on March 5.

Central Michigan returns to the road in conference play next Saturday with a visit to Eastern Michigan (April 4, 1 p.m. ET) then immediately return to host Southern California the following Monday (April 6, Noon ET).

Kelsey Barratt (Voorhess, N.J. / Eastern) posted a career day with four goals to lead the CMU attack, three of which were posted in the five-goal run to open the third quarter. She added three ground balls, a pair of caused turnovers and a draw control to her line.

Caye Kalbacher (Austin, Texas / Stephen F. Austin), Julia Werner (Gurnee, Ill. / Warren Township) and Anna Farrar (Milton, Ga. / Cambridge) joined Barratt as multi-goal scorers—Kalbacher marked her second hat trick of the season as she scored four times at Marquette (Feb. 13).

"Our offense really improved a lot today, you can tell that the girls are starting to buy in. We've been doing so well in practice but hadn't gotten to see it in a game yet."

Leila Kahler (Spring Lake, Mich. / Spring Lake) patrolled the posts for nine saves and a .563 save percentage, along with a pair of the team's season-high 22 ground balls.

Ava Regitz (Marietta, Ga. / Blessed Trinity) and Teagan Braman (Haddonfield, N.J. / Memorial) aided the senior in goal as the defense allowed just two goals after halftime and forced Detroit Mercy into a nine-for-19 mark in clear attempts.

While not perfect, the improvement on the defensive end stood in stark contrast to the Chippewas' last outing at Massachusetts nine days ago.

"Our defense could have cleaned it up a little bit more, but they still pulled through for us and were willing to adjust to different things which helped us in the end."

Barratt's first goal of the day to open the second half set the tone for the final 30 minutes. The senior crowded the Titans' goalie in her own crease following a change of possession, forced a turnover and poked the ball back into the net in one fluid motion.

Werner's two goals early in the second quarter rallied the Chippewas from a 3-1 deficit, both do-it-yourself attempts. Kalbacher and Lili Sorenson (Kildeer, Ill. / Stevenson) each contributed to the five-goal run out of intermission.

Braman picked up a game-high four ground balls while Regitz paced the circle with four CMU's 10 draw controls.

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