ALMA, Mich. -- The Trine University women's lacrosse team took an early commanding lead before holding off Alma College for the 15-9 victory.
The Scots came up with two goals in the first minute of the game to take a 2-0 early lead. From there the Thunder found their groove going on a 7-0 run over the next 15 minutes of play.
Sophomore Ella Dougherty (Lowell, Mich. / Lowell) started the scoring for the Thunder just 30-seconds after Alma's second goal. Junior Liv Ghent (Byron Center, Mich. / Caledonia) then tied the game a few minutes later with an assist from Freshman Alyssa Keptner (Midland, Mich. / H.H. Dow).
Danielle Gargiulo (Downers Grove, Ill. / Downers Grove) then gave the team the lead with just under 25-minutes remaining in the first half, they would never relinquish it. The Thunder followed up by building their lead with four more goals, two from Keptner and two from senior Kristin John (Southbend, Ind. / St. Joe's).
The two teams finished off the half by trading goals and Trine entered intermission with a 9-4 lead.
Alma once again started strong in the second, coming up with another two goals in the first minute to pull back within three at 9-6. After each tallying a goal the Thunder pulled away again by going on a 4-0 run over a ten-minute stretch. A final goal with just over five minutes remaining gave the team their final 15-9 victory.
John led the way for Trine in the contest finishing with five goals and an assist. Gargiulo came in just behind with four goals of her own. Keptner rounded out the multi-goal scorers for the team with three goals and an assist.
Dougherty, Ghent and freshman Nikki Hibler (West Lafayette, Ind. / Harrison) each tallied a lone goal to round out the scoring for the team.
In goal, the Thunder once again split time between junior Jillian Rejczyk (Wauconda, Ill. / Wauconda) and senior Emily Morthorst (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Homestead), the latter of which picked up the win improving to 1-1 in net.
Trine improves to 2-1 following the victory. They will travel to face Saint Mary's College on Saturday, March 6 for their next contest. The game is set to start at 1 p.m.
