LATROBE, Pa. (March 18) – The Saint Vincent College women's lacrosse team opened its 2023 home slate with a 16-3 win over Lancaster Bible College at a wintry UPMC Field.
Nine different Saint Vincent (2-1) players braved a wind chill in the low-20s to register at least one point, as the Bearcats jumped out to an 8-0 first quarter lead and never looked back.
Fresh off of an 11-point performance in SVC's win at Muskingum four days prior, Bridget Doyle again led all players with eight points in the win over Lancaster Bible, netting two goals with six assists.
Rookie Melanie Seefeldt totaled four points, on two goals and two assists, while three SVC players tallied three points, with Caroline Mullineaux scoring a game-high three goals, and Gabby Salandro and Carolina Walters each scoring two goals with one assist.
Kaylee Bandow, Rachel Thatcher and Jessica Persin each registered one goal apiece to round out the balanced offensive performance.
Defensively, Saint Vincent limited Lancaster Bible to just 11 shots while forcing 28 turnovers. Thatcher, Addy Carbaugh and Maggie Edwards were each credited with two caused turnovers, while Salandro and Thatcher led SVC in ground balls, snaring five and four, respectively.
Freshman Bailey Nicely played all 60 minutes in goal and recorded seven saves.
The Bearcats got off to a hot start, jumping out to a 4-0 lead after four minutes of play, with Doyle, Salandro, Mullineaux and Seefeldt all scoring early goals. Walters would then score a pair of unanswered goals, before Bandow and Mullineaux both scored in the final two minutes of the opening quarter to stake the hosts out to an 8-0 lead.
Abby Donaldson got the Chargers on the board in the opening minute of the second quarter, but SVC responded with the final four goals of the half - scored by Seefeldt, Persin, Thatcher and Mullineaux – to open up a 12-1 halftime lead.
The third quarter saw Edwards score twice and Doyle once, before Salandro closed out the scoring for the Bearcats midway through the fourth quarter.
Lindsey Weaver led Lancaster Bible on the afternoon, scoring two goals, grabbing three ground balls and tallying seven draw controls.
The Bearcats will have less than 24 hours to enjoy the victory, as they will be back on action at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 19, to take on Wilson College in another non-conference bout at UPMC Field.
