Press Release Written by Nathan Foltz
LAKEWOOD, N.J. - - The 20th-ranked Wilmington University women's lacrosse team scored 12 straight goals to open the contest on Saturday, using the run to down Georgian Court by a final score of 16-5 in Lakewood in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference matchup.
Wilmington is now 10-2 on the year with a 2-2 record in conference play, while Georgian Court is an even 5-5 with a 2-1 CACC record.
Ella Royer and Michaella Cook scored 15 seconds apart around the 11-minute mark of the first, but that was all the Wildcat offense could put together in the opening period.
The scoring frenzy didn't really kick off until the second, when six different Wildcats combined to post eight goals. Anastasia Giannoulis got it going off an assist from Royer, and then Kirra Crowley and Leah Rycroft each scored in the seventh minute of the period. Royer and Crowley each picked up their second goals of the game, and then Tristan Holdsworth got on the board to make it 8-0. Rycroft scored again with just under two minutes to go, and then Alea Javorowsky capped the half with an unassisted goal with three seconds left.
Royer and Crowley each struck again to open the third, pushing the Wilmington lead to 12. The Lions finally broke through on a free position goal with 8:07 on the clock to end the Wildcat shutout bid, with each side adding another goal before the period's end.
Giannoulis, Rycroft, and Royer scored in the fourth, giving Wilmington their largest lead of the game at 16-2. The Lions were able to score three more times before the clock read zeroes, but the lead was insurmountable by the time they got things going.
Ella Royer led all scorers with four goals on the afternoon while adding an assist, bringing her season point total to 60. Kirra Crowley and Leah Rycroft each had a hat trick, while Crowley joined Holdsworth as the only Wildcats with multiple assists.
Allison Schiavone got the start and win in goal, making three saves in a first half shutout. Ashleigh Lawry took the second half and made five saves.
The Wildcats will stay on the road for their next contest, which will come at Chestnut Hill on Tuesday. It'll be a rare night game for the Wildcats, with opening faceoff set for 7:00 p.m. in Philadelphia.