The AU women’s lacrosse team (9-7, 3-3) ended its regular season in style by walloping the Davidson Wildcats 23-5 on Saturday. The victory matched an AU record for goals scored in a game, 23, which it set in its previous game against Liberty University.
The game marked the worst loss of the season for Davidson (5-11, 4-3), as it allowed its most goals this season and lost by its largest margin. AU got off to a scorching start by scoring seven unanswered goals. Also impressive was the fact that the goals were scored by six different Eagles.
After Davidson was able to knock in their first goal, AU responded with four more of their own. The two teams would alternate scores for the rest of the half, but AU had already established its dominance with a commanding 13-4 halftime lead.
The Eagles continued the attack in the second half, as locking up this win would tie their regular-season record of nine wins. Like the first half, AU started off with a barrage of goals on Davidson’s goalkeeper Jessica Melby. The second half started with eight straight goals from AU. Sophomore midfielder Samantha Marshall scored three goals in a row during the run, and she would finish the day as the scoring leader with five scores to match all of Davidson’s offense for the day. The five goals for Marshall were a career high.
The Wildcats were able to stop AU’s goal streak with a late score from Ann Fucigna, who tied for the team high with two goals on the game. The Eagles closed out the match with back-to-back goals from junior midfielder Bernadette Maher and Marshall for the 23-5 victory.
Davidson’s Melby had her hands full with the AU attack all day, as she allowed 23 goals and made just eight saves. AU’s junior goalie, Kaska Komosinski, had an easy game in net, giving up just four goals and grabbing one save. Freshman Mia Rosen came in to the game to finish out the last six minutes and allowed Davidson’s fifth and final goal.
Three other Eagles were able to notch a hat trick. Sophomore midfielder Chiara Speziale, sophomore attacker Kimberly Collins and Maher all scored three times against Davidson. Senior attacker Lisa Schaaf was one of three Eagles to score two goals in the game and led AU with four assists.
With the regular season wrapped up, AU will now play in the Patriot League Tournament.
The Eagles have clinched the No. 4 seed in the tournament and will take on the top-seeded Colgate University Raiders. The semifinal game will take place on Friday, April 29, with the championship being played on Sunday, May 1.
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