Williamsburg, KY – It was the Patriots class of 2022 that recorded 26 points as the second-ranked Patriots defeated Tennessee Wesleyan 26-2 Saturday afternoon at the UC Lacrosse Complex.  Cumberlands recorded a program record 21 assists and 47 points to extend their win streak to 11 straight and improve to 13-1 on the season.

Bella Ricchiazzi led the way for UC with four goals and five assists, while Stephanie Meyer recorded seven points and a pair of ground balls.  Katie Wharton chipped in five points (two goals, three assists), while Brooke Ollerenshaw notched a hat trick and dished out an assist.  Trinity Brown scooped 12 draw controls, forced two turnovers and netted a goal to round out the senior class.
 

Reegan Hensley added five points, while Rachel Leigh and Morgan Tate each finished with a hat trick.  Hannah Churchley scooped three ground balls to go along with three ground balls and a caused turnover.

UC came out firing on all cylinders converting their first ten shots into goals.  Brown won the opening draw control, raced up field, and fired home the shot to give UC a 1-0 lead.  On UC's next possession Leigh found Meyer cutting towards the cage for a goal to make it 2-0.  Tate dished out an assisted before netted a goal of her own to extend the lead to 4-0 three minutes into the first quarter.  The Patriots added four more goals over the next five minutes with Ricchiazzi tallying a goal and two assists over that span.  Minutes later, Katie Wharton found Meyer and Tate for goals 19 seconds apart making it 10-0 in favor of the Patriots.  UC closed out the quarter getting goals from Morgan Terpstra and Tate to take a 12-0 advantage.

UC opened the second quarter with Carolina Johnson forcing a turnover and finishing the play with a goal to make it 13-0. A couple minutes later, Aleyah Belton forced a Bulldogs turnover before connecting with Leigh for a goal.  Katie Wharton netted her first goal of the game midway through the second quarter to spark a 4-0 Cumberlands lead making it 18-0 at the break.  The Patriots defense tallied four caused turnovers in a period.

Cumberlands defense continued their strong effort with multiple caused turnovers in the first three minutes of the third quarter.  Wharton added her second goal of the game before Mia Bosah made one of three saves in the game.  Ricchiazzi, Leigh, and Ollerenshaw each connected with a the back of the cage to give the Patriots a 22-0 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The two teams traded goals to open the fourth quarter before Belton connected with Ollorenshaw for her second hat trick of the season.  Less than a minute later, Wharton found Jael Cobb cutting towards the goal for her first goal of the season making it 25-1.  Churchley netted her first goal of the season off an assist from Hensley for the 26-1 final.

The Patriots will return to the field Wednesday, April 6, when they return to conference play against Thomas More.  The game is set for 5 p.m. with live video available here.

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