LAKE WALES, Fla. - Sophomore Riley Davis (Weare, N.H.) scored seven goals on Friday afternoon, as the New England College women's lacrosse team cruised past Warner University (Fla.) 17-7. With today's win, the Pilgrims improve their record to 3-0.
The Royals jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opening quarter, but goals from senior Mackenzie McDonald (Boscawen, N.H.) and Davis evened the score at 2-2. Senior Meadow Gilchrist (Stamford, Conn.) then gave NEC its first lead of the game, but Abigail Petrillo converted a free position shot in the closing seconds to tie the contest 3-3 at the end of the first.
The 'Grims erupted for five goals in the second quarter, with McDonald scoring twice. Davis, junior Carmela Goodwin (Lebanon, N.H.), and sophomore Lilly Vaughn (Belmont, N.H.) each added a goal to extend NEC's lead to 8-3 at halftime.
The Royals opened the third quarter with a goalie change and quickly responded, as Anaya Lister and Ella McFadden each found the back of the net to cut NEC's lead to three. McDonald connected with Davis who scored , and junior Alexis Hornsby (Atkinson, N.H.) capitalized on a free-position attempt to extend NEC's lead to five goals. Hornsby and Davis each found the back of the net in the final two minutes of the quarter to extend the 'Grims cushion to seven goals as the teams entered the final quarter of action.
Gilchrist found the back of the net less than a minute into the fourth quarter to give NEC a 13-5 advantage. Two minutes later, Makenna Day answered for the Royals to cut into the lead. McDonald then connected with Gilchrist just a minute later, and she buried the finish to extend the Pilgrims' lead to eight with 11:15 remaining. Warner continued to press on the attack, firing several shots on frame, but freshman goalkeeper Tatum Villa (Framingham, Mass.) came up with key saves for NEC. The Pilgrims maintained control offensively as Davis added three more goals to push the lead to double digits. Vanessa Lynch scored a late goal for the Royals, but the Pilgrims closed out a 17-7 victory.
Davis led the offense with seven goals, while adding five ground balls and five draw controls. Gilchrist contributed three goals and three draw controls, and McDonald tallied three goals and three assists. Goodwin recorded a game-high seven draw controls to go along with one goal, four assists, and three ground balls. Villa made three saves in net to secure her third win of the season for the 'Grims.
The Pilgrims return home to open their conference schedule against Elms College on Wednesday, March 11th at Don Melander Field at 4:00 PM.
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