Second-Half Surge Lifts Redlands Women’s Lacrosse to 15-9 Victory over Wheaton College

Photo credit: Su DelGuercio
Photo credit: Su DelGuercio

The University of Redlands women's lacrosse team took on the Wheaton College (MA) Lyons in a non-conference tilt on Farquhar Field on Friday night, earning an impressive 15-9 win that featured a second-half surge of offense.  With the score knotted at seven apiece, the Bulldogs fired off four-straight goals to start the second stanza, before closing out the game on a 4-2 run to secure the win.

Early in the contest, the teams traded scores with neither squad gaining any sort of an edge.  Senior midfielder Stephanie Garrett (San Diego, CA) led the Bulldogs with four netters in the first half, while senior midfielder Ellen Holt (Happy Valley, OR), freshman attack player Summer Stafford (Littleton, CO), and sophomore midfielder Lacey Bjorndal (Sherwood, OR) each found the back of the net once.  In addition, junior attack player Dulce Moll (Mercer Island, WA) accounted for four of the assists.

During the second stanza, the Bulldogs came out on fire, scoring four unanswered goals to build an 11-7 lead through the 18:28-mark.  While Holt and Bjorndal added to their offensive contributions, Moll and freshman midfielder Hanna Morford (West Linn, OR) joined in on the action by scoring one goal apiece for the Maroon and Gray. 

After back-to-back goals by the Lyons, Redlands simply erupted with four spectacular goals, beginning with a bang-bang play from Garrett to Holt.  Seconds later, junior midfielder Breanne Rideout (San Diego, CA) found Garrett for another highlight-reel netter, before Garrett dished out an impressive pass to Moll for the 14-9 advantage.  Finally, Bjorndal capped off the scoring spree with her third goal of the game.

A key part to the Bulldogs' success was Garrett's domination on draw controls, as she hauled in 10 of the home team's 14.  This ties her own school record for a single-game showing.

Furthermore, sophomore goalkeeper Quinn Egan (Greenwood Village, CO) stepped up for 10 saves over 47 minutes of action, earning the win.  Eight of her stops came in the second half, helping to minimize the Lyons' offensive attack.  She was supported by the relentless efforts of senior defenders Jessica Jackson (Poway, CA), Angelyn Brown (Danville, CA), and Grace Martin (Portland, OR).

Overall, Garrett finished the night with five goals, four assists, 10 draw controls, and three ground balls.  Moll added five assists and two goals, while Holt provided three goals and four ground balls.

Redlands (4-4) takes on the Loggers of the University of Puget Sound (WA) on Sunday, March 20, at 11 a.m. on Farquhar Field.