NEWBERG, Ore. – The University of Redlands women's lacrosse team opened their 2022 season will a trip to Oregon as they faced off with the George Fox University Bruins. A slow start that resulted in an 8-1 deficit after the first quarter doomed the Bulldogs as they fell 19-6 on the road.
In the first quarter the Bulldogs conceded the first four goals before local product Maeve Wiencek (Sherwood, Ore.) was able to open the Bulldogs season scoring with an unassisted goal.
The Bulldogs had to wait until there was 10:37 left in the first half for their second goal as the deficit was eight, 10-2. Then for their second consecutive goal with 2:51 left, Celine Flaig (Redondo Beach, Calif.) gave the U of R their first back-to-back goals as their deficit sat at seven. Unfortunately for Redlands as they conceded a goal with only 24 seconds remaining in the half as they trailed 11-3 after the first 30 minutes.
After the Bruins opened the third quarter with four goals, the Bulldogs got a pair back thanks to two more Flaig goals that gave her a hat trick and then her fourth goal and reduced the deficit to 10, 15-5, with 4:06 left in the third.
The Bulldogs allowed the first two goals of the fourth quarter, but they had held the Bruins scoreless over the previous 10:22. With 5:44 left Zoe Charum (Glendale, Calif.) scored the sixth a final goal as the Bulldogs fell 19-6.
Making her collegiate debut in goal for the Bulldogs was Charlie Baum (Hesperia, Calif.) who had sent her collegiate career as a standout soccer player for head coach Suzette Saboti. She started and played all 60 minutes in goal and recorded eight saves on 27 shots faced. Flaig led the Bulldogs with four goals on seven shots, all of which were on target. Wiencek had one goal on five shots and two shots on-goal, she also added a ground ball. Casey Lynch (Pittsburgh, Pa.) added two ground balls as did Kaitlyn Lesko (Buford, Ga.), Nina Davis (Bainbridge Island, Wash.), and Olivia Trujillo (Santa Barbara, Calif.).
The Bulldogs will get an early conference test at Pomona-Pitzer in their second game of the season on Saturday, February 26 at 7:00 p.m.