Williamsburg, KY – Reegan Hensley tallied a career-high five assists and 11 points to lead the sixth-ranked Patriots women's lacrosse team to a 21-2 win over (RV) Ave Maria Tuesday afternoon at the UC Lacrosse Complex.  Cumberlands had four players net at least three goals in the win, including Bella Ricchiazzi, who became UC's all-time leading goal scorer.

Ricchiazzi's third goal in the game was her 283^rd of her career, making her the all-time leading scorer as she finished with four points in the win.  Hensley tied her career-high with six goals along with those five assists, while Maria Helsten netted a career-high four goals on six shots.  Morgan Tate and Morgan Terpstra finished with four points apiece, while Anna Lobbezoo scooped six ground balls and six draw controls.  Koral Hadac notched four draw controls and three ground balls in the win.

Cumberlands, who improved to 3-1 on the season, scored twice in the first three minutes of action with goals from Ricchiazzi and Hensley made it 2-0.  The Patriots defense forced a couple Gyrenes turnovers before Ricchiazzi netted her score goal to make it 3-0 with 9:02 remaining in the first quarter.  Hensely scored two more times in the period and connected with Tate for goal giving UC a 6-0 advantage after the opening quarter.

Lobbezoo won the opening draw of the second quarter and on that possession Hensley converted a free position to make it 7-0 a minute into the period.  Hadac earned her second assist of the season two minutes later as she found Tate cutting for a goal.  A couple minutes later, Ricchiazzi forced an Ave Maria turnover and on the ensuing possession earned a free-position attempt, which she put a well-placed shot into the cage to complete the hat trick.  That goal also made her UC's all-time leading goal scorer surpassing Samantha Tullar with 283 goals.  Tate and Aleyah Belton each added a free position goal to give the Patriots an 11-1 lead at the break.

 

Congrautlations to @BellaRicchiazzi. She is now the all-time leader in goals scored in @UC_WLAX program history. pic.twitter.com/HGniOAhLwW

— UC Athletics (@UC_Patriots) March 1, 2023

UC continued their offensive efficiency in the third quarter win the first three draw controls of the period and converting them into goals, including two from Helston to make it 14-1 with 9:32 remaining.  After dishing out an assist earlier in the quarter, Terpstra scored twice over the final six minutes to extend the lead to 16-1 in favor of the Patriots.

The Patriots continued to utilize their draw control efficiency to spark the offense as Terpstra connected with Helsten for her goal of the game to open the fourth quarter. Hensley dished out back-to-back assists, marking her fourth and fifth of the game, before receiving a pass from Mia Rask for a goal to make it 20-1.  Hadac forced a Gyrenes turnover that lead to Reese Kincaid find Rask for a goal and the 21-2 final.  It was the third consecutive game that Rask found the back of the cage. 

Cumberlands will open conference play Wednesday, when they travel to Gainesville, GA to face Brenau.  The game is slated for a 4 p.m. start.

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