Women’s Lacrosse rides huge first quarter to first win of season

Salisbury, N.C. —- The Catawba College women's lacrosse team jumped out to an 11-2 lead after 15 minutes versus Lees-McRae on Thursday night, coasting to an 18-4 victory, their first of the season, at Shuford Stadium in non-conference women's lacrosse action.

TEAM STATS

- Catawba out-shot Lees-McRae 29-10

- The Catawba Indians recorded 24 shots on goal to the Bobcats' nine

- Catawba collected 27 ground balls to LMC's 22

- The Catawba Indians forced 36 turnovers compared to 27 of their own

- Catawba was 18-for-24 on clears, while holding Lees-McRae to just 10-for-28

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

- Ella McCusker tallied three goals and two assists

- Abby Shuren chipped in two goals and an assist

- Michaela Lantz, Tati Verity and Judy Rose also turned in multi-goal efforts

- Mary Sorvillo and Jenna Hirvonen each recorded team-highs of four ground balls

- Joey Baillie had a goal, an assist, four draw controls and three caused turnovers

- Evie Kauserud and Elli Ferraro combined for five saves in goal

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST QUARTER

- Catawba jumped out to a 5-0 lead behind scores from Hirvonen, Helena Cronemiller and a quick hat trick from McCusker

- The Catawba Indians answered LMC's first goal with two more of their own from Baillie and Madi Shaffer

- Catawba scored four unanswered – two from both Shuren and Rose – to end an impressive first period leading 11-2

SECOND QUARTER

- Catawba triggered the running clock early with scores from Sorvillo and Lantz

- The Bobcats made the last score of the half with Catawba leading 13-3 at the break

THIRD QUARTER

- The Catawba Indians added two more to their margin in third on scores from Kylie Harris and Lantz

FOURTH QUARTER

- Back-to-back scores from Verity and Charlie Skepple's first score since returning from injury finished off Catawba's scoring on the night, leading 18-3

UP NEXT

- Catawba returns to Shuford Stadium on Wednesday, opening up South Atlantic Conference play with Tusculum at 4 p.m.