ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. - - The Wilmington University women's lacrosse team opened its 2026 season with a convincing 15-6 victory over Molloy on Saturday afternoon at the RVC Sports Complex.
The Wildcats (1-0) used a 9-0 run spanning the halftime break to take control of the contest in the season opener. Molloy (0-1), who won the ECC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season, scored the first two goals of the game, but didn't score back-to-back goals again until the start of the fourth quarter.
Ella Royer started the scoring for the Wildcats with 6:18 left in the first quarter. That started a 5-0 run for the Wildcats, with Tristan Holdsworth scoring three of the goals. Leah Rycroft scored her first goal as a Wildcat to end the first quarter, giving the Wildcats a 4-2 lead. Holdsworth's third goal started the second quarter, giving the Wildcats a 5-2 lead.
The Lions scored on a free position shot to stop the 5-0 run, but then Ella Royer scored her second of the game, sparking the game deciding 9-0 run deep into the third quarter. Poppy Fornoff scored her first collegiate career goal in the run while Kirra Crowley scored the final three goals of the second quarter and added one more in the third. Alea Javorowsky, Holdsworth, and Anastasia Giannoulis all scored in the stretch as well.
Molloy scored the final goal of the third quarter and first of the fourth to cut it to 14-5, but Holdsworth scored and the defense only allowed one more Lions' goal to thwart any thought of a comeback.
Kirra Crowley led the Wildcats with seven points in her Wilmington debut, scoring four goals with three assists. Tristan Holdsworth led the Wildcats with five goals, adding an assist for six points. Alea Javorowsky finished with a goal and three assists while Poppy Fornoff went for a goal and two assists. Ella Royer scored two goals and added six draws.
Allison Schiavone started in goal and made five saves while Ashleigh Lawry came on and made seven stops in the second half.
The Wildcats are set to make their 2026 home debut on Wednesday afternoon when they welcome Millersville to the WU Athletics Complex. The opening draw is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in Newark.