HARROGATE, TENN. – It was another rainy and windy afternoon at the LMU Lacrosse Complex, but neither the storm outside or the Storm on the other sideline could slow down the LMU women's lacrosse team. The Lady Railsplitters stayed undefeated at home, and moved to 6-1 overall, as they cruised to a 17-2 victory over Lake Erie.
"This was good win for us coming off a quick turnaround from the game on Saturday, and I'm really happy with how we came out aggressive today, and never let up our intensity," head coach
Alyssa Shaver remarked.
Just eight seconds into the opening period,
Melanie Cascio got the scoring started as she took the opening draw control right down the field and put it in the back of the net.
Jamie Small followed that up, scoring off a pass from
Ana Carney while the Lady Railsplitters were a player down due to a penalty.
Ali Van Der Ziel netted her first goal moments later, this one off a pass from Ryba, who then found the back of the net herself less than 40 seconds later. The Storm got their first with just over two minutes left in the quarter, but LMU responded with a goal from
Breanna Booth off a pass from
Chandler Bell.
Jaedyn Ryba opened up the scoring in the second quarter, scoring off a pass from
Ali Van Der Ziel in a power play opportunity to put LMU up by five. Ali would score minutes later, then
Michaela Clark scored her first of the game, before Ali would secure her hat trick with another goal just before the break, to give the Blue and Gray a 9-1 advantage at halftime.
The Lady Railsplitters really broke the game open in the third quarter, outscoring Lake Erie 6-0 over the 15 minutes of play.
Melanie Cascio netted her second goal of the game on a man-up opportunity off a pass from
Avery Van Der Ziel.
Sydnee Saksa continued the scoring with an unassisted goal, before Cascio got her hat trick, this goal off an assist from
Ali Van Der Ziel. Ali then contributed two straight goals, one as she scored herself, and second assisting on Booth's second goal of the contest.
Michaela Clark closed out the scoring in the quarter, netting a goal with just 33 seconds remaining, as Saksa got the assist.
Ali Van Der Ziel recorded her fifth goal of the match early in the fourth quarter, this one coming unassisted. Lake Erie continued to fight, scoring off a free-position attempt to cut into the lead, but could not mount a comeback, as
Deadre Jackson sealed the game with her first goal, this one coming off another power play and off the assist from Clark.
Ali Van Der Ziel paced the offense with five goals and three assists, while Cascio tallied a hat trick. Booth, Clark, and Ryba all notched two goals, while Jackson, Small, and Saksa all scored once.
Chandler Bell, Clark, Saksa,
Avery Van Der Ziel, Carney, and Ryba all recorded assits.
Elle Miller was terrific in net, saving three shots for a .750 save percentage.
Lina Martinez and
Avery Van Der Ziel each caused two Storm turnovers. Martinez, Clark,
Delaney Duck,
Avery Van Der Ziel,
Rudi Lyles, and
Sophia Gardea all picked up multiple ground balls.
UP NEXT
The Lady Railsplitters stay at home this Saturday as they return to SAC action, when the welcome in Catawba at 3 PM, as part of a doubleheader with the men's lacrosse team.
How to Follow
Stay tuned to LMURailsplitters.com, as well as LMU's social media platforms - @LMURailsplitter on Twitter, @LMURailsplitters on Facebook and @lmurailsplitters on Instagram, for complete coverage of Lady Railsplitter lacrosse throughout the 2021-22 season.
-LMU-
