NEWARK, Del. - - A fast start carried the Wilmington University women's lacrosse team to a 23-8 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victory over Holy Family on Tuesday in the final regular season game at the WU Athletics Complex.
With the win, the Wildcats (12-4, 7-1 CACC) control their own destiny with one regular season game remaining. A win at Jefferson in the regular season finale will secure the No. 2 seed and a direct spot into the CACC Tournament Semifinal.
On Tuesday, Ella Royer became the first Wildcat to score 100 goals in a season and continues to lead all of NCAA Division II with 102 goals and 125 points on the season. The win was also head coach Kevin Day's 75th of his WilmU coaching career.
The Wildcats stormed out of the gates with the first seven goals with Ella Royer scoring five. After Holy Family got on the board with two minutes left, Eden Ward scored on a free position shot to send the Wildcats to an 8-1 advantage after the first quarter.
The Tigers scored two of the first three goals in the second, but then the Wildcats went on a 4-0 run to take a 13-3 lead. Mia Bucs converted scored in the final seconds of before the half, sending the Wildcats into the halftime break with a 14-4 lead.
The Wildcats put the game away in the third quarter, winning the frame, 6-0, to grab a 20-4. Lead. Mia Schultz started the scoring before Alea Javorowsky went back-to-back. Anastasia Giannoulis added her third of the game before Ella Royer scored her eighth of the contest. Tristan Holdsworth made it 20-4 with the final goal of the quarter with 3:57 sowing on the clock.
Holy Family scored four of the first five goals int eh fourth, but it was too little too late for the Tigers. Ella Royer scored her 10th and final goal of the game before Kayla Dillon got in on the scoring just before time expired for the 23-8 victory.
Royer scored 10 goals while adding an assist, five draws, four ground balls, and two caused turnovers. Alea Javorowsky went for two goals and six assists while Anastasia Giannoulis scored three goals and added an assist. Eden Ward, Mia Schultz, and Tristan Holdsworth all scored two goals in the game. Caitlyn Welker finished with five draws and two grounds balls while Sophie Shive added two caused turnovers and two ground balls.
Ashleigh Lawry made two stops in the first half before Allison Schiavone finished off the win with seven stops in the second half.
The Wildcats head to Philadelphia next Wednesday to take on Jefferson on Wednesday, April 23. The opening draw in the regular season finale is set for 2:00 p.m.
