Box Score
ST. CHARLES, Mo. — Four players scored hat tricks as Lindenwood (7-2 overall, 3-0 in the
Western Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association) defeated Fort Lewis (4-5, 2-2) 20-9 today at Hunter Field in the first-ever meeting between the conference rivals.
The Skyhawks played even with the Lions for the first seven minutes, as FLC
Brook Wineland and
Kylie Smith sandwiched goals by LWU's Jordyn Constance and Lindsey Palmer.
Then the Lions reeled off 10 straight goals to finish the first half with a 12-2 lead — one they'd never relinquish. Lexi Crusha scored three of her four goals during this stretch.
“We played pretty well overall,” said second-year FLC head coach Kelsey MacDonald. “What killed us was our midfield transition. We'd play well on defense and then turn it over. That's pretty much been the story of the past three games.”
After falling down 17-4 two-thirds of the way through the second stanza, FLC went on a run late to score five straight goals and trim the lead to 17-9 with 1:25 remaining.
Jessica Norby scored three goals during this run and assisted on another. But the Lions got three more in the final minute to account for the final, 20-9 score.
Crush finished with a seven-point game (four goals, three assists), while Palmer had six points (four goals, two assists). Kara Cashen and Justiene Groothuis had three goals and two assists apiece.
Norby led the Skyhawks with four points (three goals, one helper), while Smith scored twice and had an assist.
Amanda Cawker,
Kathryn Dunn,
Abby Kvidera, and Wineland also had markers for FLC.
The Lions dominated nearly every statistical category, including shots (35-23), ground balls (32-22), draw controls (17-14), and caused turnovers (10-7). Fort Lewis committed 28 turnovers — second most in school history.
The Skyhawks hope to get back on the winning track at 11 a.m. tomorrow when they face Lees-McRae (N.C.) (1-8) at 11 a.m. MDT.
The meeting is the first ever in women's lacrosse between the two schools, although they enjoy a healthy rivalry in other sports. The two are perennial powerhouses in USA Cycling, while FLC defeated the Bobcats 1-0 in the 2009 NCAA Division II men's soccer national championship game.
