NEWARK, Del. - - The 2024 season got off on the right foot for the Wilmington University women's lacrosse team, as they blanked St. Thomas Aquinas, 23-0, at the WU Athletics Complex on Friday afternoon.
During the process, Wilmington sophomore Ella Royer collected her 100th career point and seventh year head coach Kevin Day picked up his 50th career victory. It is the second straight year the Wildcats shutout the Spartans in the season opener.
The Wildcats scored eight times in the first quarter, getting three goals from Amelie Gamache, two from Ella Royer, and one each from Makenzie Stritzinger, Anastasia Giannoulis and Maddy Bassoff. Riley McQuaide got in on the score to start the second quarter before Stritzinger added a man-advantage goal. Lauren Gresham sandwiched a goal in between two more from Royer and the Wildcats led 13-0 at the halftime break.
Amelie Gamache and Makenzie Stritzinger scored two goals each in the third quarter, with Royer adding her fifth goal of the game in the middle. Stritzinger started the fourth with a goal and then Ella Royer scored her sixth goal of the game, giving her 100 career points. Gamache tacked on a final goal in the fourth while Mia Schultz and Lauren Gresham capped the scoring with goals, making it 23-0 to open to the season.
Amelie Gamache finished with six goals and five assists for 11 points, adding five draws. Ella Royer finished with six goals and two assists for eight points, adding four draws and three ground balls. Makenzie Stritzinger scored five goals and added an assist for six points, leading the team with seven draws as well. Alea Javorowsky collected three assists in the game as well.
Katie Vindigni secured the shutout with six saves in the game, including three in the fourth quarter.
The Wildcats take to the road for their next four contests, starting on Sunday with a trip to North Carolina. The first stop is at Pfeiffer on Sunday with a 3:00 p.m. opening draw.
