Press Release written by Mitchell Coll
HILLBURN, N.Y. - - A decisive second quarter by the Dominican University Chargers made the difference in handing the Wilmington University women's lacrosse team a 23-11 loss in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon at the Torne Valley Sports Complex.
The Wildcats (4-4, 0-1 CACC) came out of the gates firing on all cylinders, as it took just 36 seconds for the Wildcats to find the back of the net. Mackenzie Stritzinger scored from an assist from Ella Baynes to put the 'Cats up 1-0. Dominican (6-1, 1-0 CACC) would answer back, however, with three straight goals in a two-minute span which was capped off at the 10:04 mark. Maddie Day answered back with a goal of her own, again set up by Ella Baynes to put the 'Cats back within two goals with 9:38 left in the first. Stritzinger then took it upon herself to score the Wildcat's third goal, and Ella Baynes gets rewarded with a goal before the quarter ends on a free position shot. The Wildcats went into the second quarter down 9-4.
Dominican scored two goals early in the second, including a man-down goal to open the quarter. Then, at 11:59, Amelie Gamache found Alea Javorowsky to answer back the Charger's opening goals in the second quarter. Then the Chargers closed out the quarter by scoring six straight unanswered goals. As a result, they extended their lead to 17-5 going into the half.
Ella Royer led all scorers in the third quarter with three goals. Royer scored all three goals unassisted. Ella Baynes and Maddie Day added their second goals on the day in the third. The Wildcats outscored the Chargers in the second-half five to two.
The Wildcats were outscored in the closing quarter of the game, 4-1. Maddie scored the lone goal for the Wildcats in the quarter, which was also Day's third goal.
Ella Royer and Maddie Day led the Wildcats in goals with three apiece. Ella Baynes and Amelie Gamache both had two assists. Baynes and Mackenzie Stritzinger both added two goals. Katie Vindigni went the distance between the pipes, going 60 minutes, and made 14 saves on 37 shots faced.
The Wildcats will continue CACC play as they welcome the Griffins of Chestnut Hill College on Wednesday, at the WU Athletics Complex. The opening whistle is set for 4:00 PM.