Ave Maria, FL – The second-ranked UC women's lacrosse team opened their longest road trip of the season with a 22-4 win over Ave Maria Monday night at Gyrene Field.  Trinity Brown and Aleyah Belton both recorded career highs in the game as the Patriots improve to 7-1, while the Gyrene moves to 2-6.

Brown scooped a career-high 14 draw controls in the game, which is the third most in program history, and is also her second straight game scooping double-digit draw controls.  Belton netted a career-high five goals, while Reegan Hensley tied her career-high connecting with the cage five times. Bella Ricchiazzi led Cumberlands with three goals and three assists on the day, while Meyer finished with five points.

Olivia McCarrell made seven stops in the game, while limiting Ave Maria to a goal over three quarters of action.  Rachel Leigh scooped six draw controls and tallied four points, while Jael Cobb and Christina Min finished with two caused turnovers each.

UC wasted no time to strike as Brown won the opening draw control and on the ensuing possession Ricchiazzi found Hensley for a goal 25 seconds in.  UC added a pair of free position goals before Ricchaizzi connected with Hensley for the second time making it 4-0 with 11:44 remaining in the first quarter.  The Gyrene looked to cut into the deficit however a McCarrell save and an Erin Bryant caused turnover gave the Patriots the possession as Carolina Johnson finished on the play to make it 5-0 midway through the opening period.  Morgan Tate and Ricchiazzi each added a goal before Ave Maria got on the board making it 7-1 with four minutes left.  UC added three unanswered goals to close out the quarter with a 10-1 advantage.

Brown won the opening draw control of the second quarter and in the transition Min found Belton for a goal 11 seconds into the period.  McCarrell made four saves in the quarter to hold the Gyrene at bay, while the Patriots offense continued to operate at a high level netting three straight goals.  Ricchiazzi converted a free-position before Min dished out a goal to Leigh, while Leigh found Meyer for a goal to extend the lead to 14-1 at the break.

Cumberlands netted three goals in the first four minutes of the third quarter with three different Patriots scoring.  Each goalie made a save over the next several minutes however Meyer dished out assists to Hensley and Leigh to give UC a 19-1 advantage with 3:44 left.  Belton added a free position goal in the closing minute of the period for her fifth goal of the contest giving the Patriots a 20-1 lead.

The Patriots defense continued to pressure Ave Maria forcing three turnovers over the opening three minutes of the fourth period.  Min scooped the ground ball off that last caused turnover and on the ensuing possession Brooke Ollerenshaw found Katie Wharton in front of the cage for a man-down goal to make it 21-1 with 10:49 left.  Ave Maria netted three of the final four goals in the game for the 22-4 final.

UC will return the field Thursday, March 17, when they travel to West Palm Beach, FL to take on top-ranked Keiser in a rematch of last year's title game.  First draw is set for 2 p.m. with live video available here and live stats available here.

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