Indianapolis, IN – Carolina Johnson and Stephanie Meyer each tallied a career-high as the second-ranked Patriots netted six goals in each of the first three quarters to defeat Marian 22-4, Friday afternoon.  With the win, UC improves to 14-1 overall and 4-0 in MSC play and extends their win streak to 12 straight.

Johnson notched three goals on three shots and a career-high three assists and six points in the win.  Meyer netted a career-high four goals and nine draw controls to go along with three caused turnovers and three ground balls.  Reegan Hensely and Bella Ricchiazzi finished with four goals apiece, while Aleyah Belton tallied three goals and two assists in the win.

Cumberlands defense held the Knights scoreless in the second half as Trinity Brown tallied seven draw controls, five ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers.  Erin Bryant tied the team lead with three caused turnovers as Olivia McCarrell and Mia Bosah combined for four saves in the win.

The Patriots defense opened the game strong as Erin Bryant caused a turnover as part of three Knights turnovers in the opening minutes.  On UC's first offensive possession Carolina Johnson found Bella Ricchiazzi cutting in front of the cage for a goal at the 12:18 mark. Trinity Brown won the draw control and on the ensuing possession Rachel Leigh connected with Reegan Hensley for a goal to extend the lead to 2-0.  A couple minutes later Stephanie Meyer forced a turnover which led to Katie Wharton find Johnson for a goal to extend the lead to 3-0 with 8:29 left.  Aleyah Belton won the next draw control as Hensley finished with a well-placed shot into the back of the cage to make it 4-0, 20 seconds later.  The two teams traded goals, before Belton converted a free position goal to give Cumberlands a 6-1 lead.

UC took advantage of a man-up opportunity as Hensley found Meyer for a goal just under a minute into the second quarter.  After a Knights goal, Leigh made a great pass to a cutting Morgan Terpstra  for the goal with 11:39 left to make it 8-2.  A minute later, Meyer forced a turnover on the defensive end of the field and finished off with her third goal of the game off an assist from Johnson.  The score remained that way until the 5:03 mark when Ricchiazzi scooped the ground ball and fired it home making it 10-2.  Marian looked to cut into the lead, however, McCarrell made a pair of save to preserve the lead.  Marian notched two of the next four goals to make it 12-4 at the break. 

Cumberlands extended their lead just over a minute into the third quarter as Belton found Katie Wharton for a goal.  McCarrell stopped another free position shot, before Johnson and Belton each tallied a goal to make it 15-4 with 10:38 left.  UC added three unanswered goals as Rachel Leigh capped off the run with a free position goal to make it 18-4. 

The Patriots carried the momentum into the fourth quarter as Bryant forced a turnover, while Johnson connected with Belton for the goal before scoring one of her own to give UC a 20-4 advantage, five minutes in.  Marisa Helsten and Hensley each added a goal over the final minutes, while the Patriots defense held the Knights scoreless for the 22-4 final.

UC outshot Marian 33-16 in the game and scooped 19 draw controls to the Knights 11.

The Patriots return to the field Monday, April 11, when they host Thomas More at 5 p.m.  Live video of that game is available here.

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