GROVE CITY, Pa. -- The Grove City College women's lacrosse team held visiting Chatham to only three shots in the second half Saturday afternoon as the hosts rallied for an 11-7 victory at Robert E. Thorn Field in the championship game of the Presidents' Athletic Conference Championship Tournament.

It is Grove City's second straight conference title. The Wolverines earn the conference's automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament as league champion.

Grove City (12-6) trailed 4-1 after one quarter but closed the margin to 7-6 by halftime. Sophomore attack Taylor Blythe (Mendon, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima) scored with 14 seconds left in the second quarter, pulling the Wolverines to within a goal.

Junior attack Jackie Rowell (Laurel, Md./Reservoir) tied the game with an unassisted goal 60 seconds into the third quarter. Grove City then took the lead for good with 11:15 remaining in the third quarter when sophomore attack Gwen Shilling (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) fired in an unassisted goal.

A Chatham red card gave Grove City a five-minute man-up situation later in the quarter and the Wolverines scored twice in that span. Rowell scored with 4:05 left after receiving an assist from sophomore midfielder Jess Robinette (Mohnton, Pa./Twin Valley). Robinette scored with 2:43 left in the period. Senior midfielder Abby Roetering (Glenelg, Md./Glenelg) assisted Robinette's goal.

Robinette then returned the favor to Roetering with 10 seconds left in the quarter by recording her second assist of the quarter. Roetering's goal closed the scoring.

Shilling led Grove City with three goals. Robinette scored twice as part of a four-point game. Roetering and Rowell both had two goals and an assist. Blythe had a goal and an assist while sophomore midfielder Tori Stevenson (Butler, Pa./Butler) also scored. 

Roetering also led the defense with four caused turnovers. Robinette, Rowell, Stevenson and senior defender Amber Wartman (Ellicott City, Md./Mount Hebron) all caused two turnovers apiece. Overall, the Wolverines pressured Chatham into 28 turnovers. Grove City finished with 20 turnovers. 

Senior defender Emily Arnold (Ijamsville, Md./Urbana) picked up a team-leading six ground balls. Wartman and senior goalie Elyse Kiggins (Zelienople, Pa./Seneca Valley) both collected four ground balls. Junior defender Reese Hasley (Cheswick, Pa./Deer Lakes) led the Wolverines with four draw controls.

The defensive corps of Arnold, Hasley, Jackson and Wartman teamed with Kiggins to blank Chatham (11-7) over the final 30 minutes. Chatham finished the game with 17 total shots, including 11 on goal. Grove City racked up 32 total shots, putting 20 on goal. 

Kiggins made four saves to earn her 45th career win. 

This is the second conference title in the four-year history of Grove City College intercollegiate women's lacrosse. It is the first crown won at home. Grove City won at Washington & Jefferson in the 2024 title game, 13-10.

Grove City will make its second straight trip to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. The 47-team field and pairings will be announced Monday.