Amidst a record-breaking effort, the University of Redlands women's lacrosse team rolled to an 18-2 victory over the visiting Auggies of Augsburg University (MN) on Wednesday night. Senior midfielder Lacey Bjorndal (Sherwood, OR) reset the Bulldogs' single-game record with 11 draw controls, which initiated the home team's explosive offense that included nine different goal-scorers.
After Augsburg scored the first goal less than three minutes into the action, the Maroon and Gray simply took over the game with nine unanswered goals for the 9-1 halftime lead. First-year attacker Amanda Levandowski (San Diego, CA) found the back of the net for the Bulldogs at the 24:20-mark to make it 1-1 early on. Subsequently, Bjorndal hauled in the first of her record-setting 11 draw controls, which set up a sweet bang-bang play for Redlands' 2-1 lead. Junior attacker Kelsey Ruhl (Seattle, WA) uncorked the first of her five assists of the game by finding an open sophomore attacker Charly Walter (Bethesda, MD) for the goal.
Redlands' offense continued to fire away, with sophomore midfielder Sadie Pickering (Tacoma, WA) leading the attack with three goals and an assist amidst the first-half scoring surge. In addition, first-year midfielder Kaley Holland (Seattle, WA) scored the first goal of her young Bulldog career, which came off an assist by Bjorndal at the 15:04-mark.
The second half began much like the first, with Augsburg finding the back of the net for the score early in the frame.
Nonetheless, the Bulldogs quickly regrouped and ran away with the dominating win with another nine-goal offensive outburst.
During the final 21 minutes of the contest, Pickering registered another hat trick for six total goals in the win. Holland supplied her second goal and an assist in back-to-back scoring plays for Redlands, while first-year attacker Breanna Gunderson (San Diego, CA) scored twice in the final 4:34 of the game.
Ruhl finished the night with five assists and two goals in an impressive showing. Her five assists land her in a tie for second all-time among Redlands' top-10 lists. As a team, the Bulldogs recorded 11 assists, which places them a tie for fifth in school history for a single game.
Senior goalkeeper Quinn Egan (Greenwood Village, CO) patrolled the Bulldog cage with efficiency and skill, as she made three saves and allowed only two goals in a full-game showing. Sophomore defender Chelsea Sahami (Millbrae, CA) offered great support with three caused turnovers and four ground balls.
Redlands (4-5) looks forward to hosting Sewanee (TN) on Wednesday, March 21, at 7 p.m. on Farquhar Field for ALS Awareness Night.
