Williamsburg, KY – Reegan Hensley and
Bella Ricchiazzi both reach goal milestones in the game as the sixth-ranked Patriots women's lacrosse team defeated ninth-ranked Aquinas 19-7 Saturday afternoon at the UC Lacrosse Complex. The win was the 100
th victory in program history and for Head Coach
Kelly Buikus, who has been at the helm since the program's first game during the 2016 season.
The Patriots utilized a 15 goal run, that spanned three quarters, to pull away from the Saints for their sixth straight win. Cumberlands improves to 7-1 on the season as they tally their fourth win over a team that has been mentioned in the NAIA Coaches' Poll.
Ricchiazzi finished with three goals and three assists on the day, her third goal was also her 300
th of her career making her the first Patriot to achieve that. Hensley netted a hattrick in the win, the second of which was the 100
th of her career making her the sixth UC player to achieve that.
Marisa Helsten and
Morgan Terpstra each tallied three goals and an assists, while
Emma Rittman finished with two goals, two assists, a pair of caused turnovers, and seven draw controls.
Olivia McCarrell made five saves in the win, as
Koral Hadac notched four caused turnovers, five draw controls and three ground balls.
Anna Lobbezoo added six draw controls, while
Christina Min finished with a pair of caused turnovers and two ground balls.
Aquinas scored twice in the first five minutes of play to take the early advantage. The Patriots responded as Hensley scooped a ground ball and on the ensuing possession Terpstra found Helsten in front of the cage for a goal, cutting the deficit to 2-1. The Saints added a pair of man-down goals to extend their lead to 4-2, before Lobbezoo found Rittman for a goal to spark a run. The Hadac and Lobbezoo won the next two draw controls which resulted in a pair of free position goals from UC to give Cumberlands a 5-4 advantage with 46 seconds left. In the closing seconds of the quarter, Terpstra forced a turnover as Rittman connected with Helsten for a goal, her third of the game to make it 6-4.
Hensley added a goal and an assist in the first three minutes of the second quarter to make it 8-4. Hadac forced a pair of Saints turnovers before Ricchiazzi connected with Terpstra for a goal giving UC a 9-4 lead with 10:25 remaining. Cumberlands added a pair of man-up goals, before
Erin Bryant tallied a caused turnover and Lobbezoo found Ricchiazzi curling towards the cage for a goal to give the Patriots a 12-4 lead at the break.
On Cumberlands first possession of the third quarter, Rittman found Hensley in front of the cage for a goal. That goal was her 100
th goal of her career and made it 13-4. Rittman won the next draw control, raced up field and scored seven seconds later. After a Lobbezoo goal, the Patriots added a pair of man-up goals to take a 17-4 lead into the fourth quarter.
Aquinas scored three straight goals to open the fourth period and cut the lead to 17-7.
Mia Bosah made three saves, including stopping a pair of free-position attempts to keep the lead at ten before Hensley ran a give-and-go with Ricchiazzi to complete the hattrick. Hadac won the ensuing draw control and found Terpstra cutting in front of the cage for the 19-7 final.
Cumberlands outshot the Saints 44-16 in the game and won the draw control battle 21-9.
The Patriots return the field Monday, March 13, when they host Concordia. The game is set for a 2 p.m. start with live video available
here.
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