WILSON, N.C. - - A big second quarter allowed the Wilmington University women's lacrosse to distance itself from Barton on Wednesday night, winning 17-10 on Truist Stadium to move to 3-0 on the season.
It is the first time the Wildcats have started 3-0 on a season since the 2008 squad started 4-0.
On Wednesday night, the Wildcats needed to come back from an early hole, falling behind, 5-3, with less than a minute to play in the first quarter. But Campbell Heller and Maddie Day scored a pair of quick goals just 14 seconds a part to tie the game, 5-5, at the end of the first quarter.
Day and Heller started the second how they ended the first, scoring back-to-back goals again to take the lead back. Makenzie Stritzinger made it 8-5 as the Wildcats scored the first three goals of the second quarter. After a Barton goal, Stritzinger and Day closed out the quarter with goals and the Wildcats took a 10-6 lead in the halftime break.
The Wildcats won the third quarter, 3-2, taking as large as a six-goal lead, first at 12-6, and again at 13-7.
Ella Baynes scored her third goal of the game to start the fourth quarter but then Barton scored back-to-back goals to close to within 14-10. The Wildcats didn't let Barton get any closer, however, as they scored a pair of man-down goals and a goal in the final seconds to take the contest, 17-10.
Maddie Day led the Wildcats with six points, scoring five goals and adding an assist. Campbell Heller scored five goals and added eight draws while Ella Baynes scored four goals. Taylor Lambeth scored once but led the team with three assists. Amelie Gamache controlled eight draws while Taylor Culver led the team with three ground balls. Juliana Kolakowski led the defense with two caused turnovers.
Katie Vindigni came on in goal for the Wildcats to start the second quarter and made 11 saves, earning her first collegiate career win.
The Wildcats return home for their next contest, as they welcome St. Thomas Aquinas to the WU Athletics Complex on Saturday afternoon. The opening draw is set for 1:00 p.m.