BRYN ATHYN, Pa. - - A strong first half led the Wilmington University women's lacrosse team to a 19-9 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victory over Holy Family, played on Nelson Field at Bryn Athyn College on Tuesday afternoon.
The Wildcats (3-5, 2-0 CACC) scored the third four goals of the game en route to a 12-4 first half lead. The Tigers (0-6, 0-1 CACC) scored three of the first five goals of the second half, but the Wildcats answered with five of the last seven to secure the CACC victory.
Wilmington doubled the Tigers' shots in the first half, 24-12, controlling the ball by winning the draw, 10-7. Four different Wildcats gave the Wildcats a 4-0 lead in the opening eight minutes. Lashay Ross started the scoring with a free position shot, followed by a free position goal from Alexis Miller. Mikailla Spencer made it 3-0 with a goal before Taylor Lambeth put the Wildcats on top 4-0 with her first goal of the game.
A 5-0 Wildcat run put the Wildcats in control late in the first half, stretching a 7-3 lead out to 12-3 with 1:17 left before the break. La'Dae Boykin, Sam Foster, Mikailla Spencer, and back-to-back goals from Lashay Ross gave the Wildcats a 12-3 lead.
Holy Family went on to score three of the first five goals of the second half, getting to within 14-7 with 15:56 left in regulation. But that would be as close as the Tigers would get, as Boykin scored back-to-back goals with assists from Ross to put the Wildcats up 16-7 with 13:41 to play.
Three straight goals from Mariah Spencer capped the scoring for the Wildcats, as her final goal, a free position shot, put the Wildcats ahead, 19-8 with 3:31 left to play.
Lashay Ross tied a single game program record with 13 draw controls, tying the mark set by Rebekah McCurry on March 6, 2015 at Tampa.
La'Dae Boykin scored a team high six goals to go along with three assists for nine points. Ross also scored three goals to go with two assists for five points while Mariah Spencer added her hat trick as well with three goals. Mikailla Spencer and Alexis Miller added two goals each as well. Mariah Spencer led the team with three caused turnovers and four grounds balls as well.
Maddie Hurm made 13 saves in goal for the Wildcats, facing 22 shots on goal.
The Wildcats return to the WU Athletics Complex for their next contest, as they step back outside the CACC. They welcome West Virginia Wesleyan to Newark on Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. opening draw.