ADRIAN, Mich. – The Trine University women's lacrosse team opened Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play with a win, outscoring their hosts from Adrian College 16-6.
The Thunder opened the game on a quick run, scoring three goal in 55 second of game time during the fourth minute of the opening quarter. Nikki Hibler scored first for the team followed quickly by Elizabeth Larson on a free position attempt and Alyssa Lahutsky quickly following a draw control. The final two goals of the series were just five seconds apart on the scoreboard.
Courtney Rhodes and Alyssa Keptner added two more to the scoreboard over the next seven minutes of play, making it a 5-0 streak for Trine. The Bulldogs finally scored a goal with just over three minutes of the period.
The Thunder posted another three-goal streak in response, this time just needing 26 seconds. Brooke Hoag accounted for two of the goals while Rhodes added the third, building the team's lead to 8-1 for the end of the first quarter.
Adrian cut into the lead during the second quarter, scoring three goals to Trine's two. Rhodes and Calista Richmond each scored for the team sending the game to the half with a 10-4 score in favor of the visitors.
Seven of the team's goals in the half featured an assist, with Richmond serving as the main culprit with three and Rhodes added two more. Rhodes led both teams with five points in the opening half.
The third quarter was quiet in comparison to the first half, with the teams combining for just three goals. The Thunder built their lead by scoring twice, one for each Larson and Hibler, making the score 12-5 at the end of the stanza.
The Thunder pulled away in the fourth period, scoring four goals to just one by the Bulldogs. Keptner, Richmond, Hoag and Larson all added to their totals for the day in the quarter, building the final score to 16-6.
Richmond and Rhodes tied atop the scoresheet in the game, each finishing with six points. Richmond led the way with four assists while adding the pair of goals, while Rhodes finished with three goals and three assists. Larson and Hoag also had three goals in the game.
Defensively Larson and Keptner led the way with four caused turnovers each, while Evalyn Bellotti led the team four groundballs. Danielle Gargiulo and Keptner led the way on draws, finishing with four draw controls each. In net Maddy Kasten earned the win on the back of seven saves, while allowing just the six goals.
The Thunder improve to 7-3 overall and 1-0 in MIAA play following the lopsided victory. They will continue their season when they travel to play Albion College on Wednesday, April 10. That game is set to start at 7 p.m.