ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University women's lacrosse team moved to 3-0 on the young 2022 season with a 14-9 triumph over Ohio Northern University on Saturday afternoon, sending the Polar Bears to 2-3 overall.
In a fairly balanced affair, the Thunder outshot their opponents 26-21, but lost the turnover battle 17-15. Each team's goalie was able to make nine saves, a season-high for Trine's Jillian Rejczyk [Wauconda, Ill. / Wauconda].
The teams were even at three goals each until the final minute of play in quarter number one. Danielle Gargiulo [Downers Grove, Ill. / Downers Grove], Courtney Rhodes [Monee, Ill. / Providence Catholic] and Chloe Vruno [Geneva, Ill. / St. Francis] each tickled the twine in the first, with Liv Ghent [Byron Center, Mich. / Caledonia] assisting on the later two. Gargiulo found Ella Dougherty [Lowell, Mich. / Lowell] then scored herself in the final 60 seconds to give the home team a 5-3 advantage.
Each team scored three times in the second, and both once while one up on the field. Ghent and Calista Richmond [Portage, Mich. / Portage] each netted their first goals in the period while Gargiulo notched her third to wrap up the frame.
Similarly, the teams matched one another again in the third quarter, with Dougherty and Ghent finding the back of the net for Trine to make it 10-8 going into the last 15 minutes of play.
The Thunder took firm control of the match by scoring the first four goals of the fourth quarter and holding Ohio Northern scoreless until the final minute. Ghent, Gargiulo and Richmond combined for four goals in the first six minutes on their way to a 14-9 victory at home.
Gargiulo and Ghent tied for the team lead with four goals each and Josie Prince [St. Charles, Mo. / Francis Howell Central] collected team-highs in ground balls with five and caused turnovers with three.
The Thunder go on the road at Carthage College next Saturday, March 12 for a 4 pm start.