FOND DU LAC, Wis. (Blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's lacrosse team stymied Marian 11-1 on Saturday to pick up its first win of the season. The victory was the first career win for first-year head coach
Michael Rhodovi.
The Blugolds were stout defensively and didn't allow a goal until the fourth quarter. It was the second time in program history that UW-Eau Claire held an opponent to one goal in a game.
Reegan Werner (So. – Farmington, Minn.) led the offense with three goals, while three other Blugolds added two goals each.
UW-Eau Claire (1-1) scored four times in the first quarter to establish an early lead.
Alexie Romanelli (Jr. – Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) scored the opener after three and a half minutes had passed.
Raegan Valois (So. – Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View) added a pair of goals midway through the quarter to make it a 3-0 Blugold lead, and
Devon Crews (So. – St. Louis, Mo./Rockwood Summit) added a goal in the final seconds of the period to give UW-Eau Claire a 4-0 advantage heading to the second quarter.
There wasn't much offense to come by in the second period, with goals from Werner and
Lily Zygowicz (So. – Lafayette, Colo./Centaurus) serving as the only scoring. It put UW-Eau Claire ahead 6-0 at halftime. The Blugolds held the Sabers (0-5) to six shots in the first half.
The third quarter offered even fewer scoring chances. Crews struck with 10:31 left for the only goal in the period, sending the Blugolds to the fourth with a 7-0 advantage.
UW-Eau Claire put the game out of reach with a flurry of goals early in the fourth quarter. Werner scored off an assist from Zygowicz,
Paige Kiani (Fr. – New Brighton, Minn./Irondale) scored off a pass from
Capri Meyer (Fr. – Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge), and Werner added a short-handed goal to make it 10-0. Marian scored its only goal at the 8:11 mark, and Romanelli completed the scoring with a free position goal in the final four minutes.
Werner finished with three goals, five ground balls, five caused turnovers and three draw controls. Romanelli, Crews and Valois all scored two goals each. Crews had a team-high six ground balls.
Alexandria Shea (Jr. – Pleasant Prairie, Wis./Indian Trail) made six saves in goal to earn her first victory of the season.
As a team, UW-Eau Claire held advantages in shots (35-16), clears (15-12), and ground balls (47-23).
The Blugolds will be back in action next week when they host their home opener. UW-Eau Claire hosts Saint Benedict (Minn.) at Simpson Field on Wednesday, March 13. Game time is 5 p.m.
