The 19th-ranked University of Redlands women's lacrosse team built an early 6-1 lead and remained in control en route to a 12-6 victory over Pomona-Pitzer Colleges in Wednesday's Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) showdown on Farquhar Field.
The Bulldogs got on the board less than five minutes into the contest when junior midfielder Jacky Craycraft (Trabuco Canyon, CA) found the back of the net for the first of her team-leading three goals.
Although Pomona-Pitzer's Jana London answered within two minutes, the Maroon and Gray responded with a 5-0 run to create a sizeable lead with 9:24 remaining in the opening stanza. Redlands benefitted from the scoring prowess of four different players, with Craycraft capping off her first-half hat trick during this span.
London pulled one back for the Sagehens, but junior midfielder Molly Eckert (Houston, TX) converted a free-position shot for the Bulldogs, making it 7-3 at halftime.
Although Pomona-Pitzer started off the second stanza with its only back-to-back scoring spurt of the game, the Maroon and Gray stepped up its defense to change the momentum back in favor of the Bulldogs. Redlands finished the game with a 5-1 scoring advantage.
Eckert, senior midfielder Crystal Painter (Lake George, NY), and freshman midfielder Ellen Holt (Portland, OR) each finished with two goals for the Maroon and Gray. Painter also recorded the team's only assist on the night.
Freshman midfielders Stephanie Garrett (San Diego, CA) and Samantha Keary (Mission Viejo, CA) offered three caused turnovers apiece, while Craycraft nabbed a team-high four draw controls. Garrett and Painter registered four ground balls each.
For Pomona-Pitzer, London led the scoring with three goals, while Logan Galansky offered two netters and one assist to go along with four draw controls.
Graduate student goalkeeper Ana Martinez (Pleasanton, CA) patrolled the Redlands cage, racking up seven saves in 60 minutes of action.
Casey Leek tallied nine stops for the Sagehens (0-2, 0-2 SCIAC).
Redlands (2-0, 2-0 SCIAC) heads to Chapman University on Saturday for a 7 p.m. SCIAC match with the Panthers.
