The American University lacrosse team (2-1) defeated the Howard Bison (0-3) in its Feb. 24 home opener 15-2 with goals from 11 different players.
Howard began the game on the attack, with midfielder Quai Skeete-Ridley winning the opening draw control, but their first shots went wide and were saved by AU junior goalkeeper Mary Alice Collins.
Senior defender Grace Brennan caused a turnover, allowing American to gain possession of the ball. Soon after, freshman attacker Annabelle Jackson opened the scoring with her sixth goal of the season. Freshman midfielder Kellie Linehan notched the next goal on a free-position shot less than a minute later, her sixth of the season as well. Sophomore attacker Maddy Spratt achieved a hat trick in under seven minutes, ending the quarter with the Eagles on top 7-1.
The Eagles heavily controlled the possession, only allowing two shots on goal and one goal in the first quarter. Attacker Kayla Rose was the lone Howard goalscorer, and junior midfielder Hannah Spease also had a goal for American.
The Eagles picked up right where they left off in the second quarter, with freshman midfielder Reagan Murdoch adding to American’s lead. Continuing American’s torrential downpour of goals, sophomore attacker Alyssa Apuzzo notched her first of the season, and fellow sophomore attacker twins Kate and Jaime Petronis scored back-to-back for their firsts of the season.
Sophomore goalkeeper Lexi Rakis replaced Collins in American’s net to begin the second half. Collins faced three shots, allowing just one goal. The Eagles entered the half up by 10 and were passing much more before taking any shots. They appeared to be avoiding scoring, and fell victim to the shot clock a few times as a result. Neither American nor Howard scored in the third quarter, keeping the score 10-1.
The Eagles resumed their scoring onslaught in the fourth quarter, with Kate Petronis adding her second goal of the day, and junior midfielder Lizzie De Guzman and senior midfielder Sadie Herman both scoring while man-up thanks to a yellow card taken by the Bison.
Rose scored again for Howard to make the game 14-2, but senior midfielder Sydney Wender answered immediately and regained the 13-goal lead for American. The Eagles demolished the Bison 15-2, thanks in part to multi-goal games from Jackson, Spratt and Kate Petronis.
“We don't rely on a certain someone on the field. Everyone has the opportunity to step up whatever day it is,” Spratt said. “It's just incredible to be with your best friends playing and growing together.”
The Eagles next take on George Washington University on Wednesday, March 1 at 1 p.m. on Jacobs Field.
This article was edited by Delaney Hoke and Nina Heller. Copy editing done by Isabelle Kravis and Natasha LaChac.
