SPARTANBURG, S.C. - - Another quick start led the Wilmington University women's lacrosse to its third straight dominating win to start the season, defeating Converse, 20-9, on Wednesday night inside Weisiger Stadium.
The Wildcats (3-0) started the game by scoring the first 10 goals of the night, leading 10-1 after the first quarter of play. Converse (2-3) stayed with the Wildcats the rest of the, with the Wildcats only outscoring the Valkyries, 10-8, in the final three frames.
Ella Royer and Makenzie Stritzinger combined for the first six goals of the game, as the Wildcats jumped out to a 6-0 lead with 6:57 to play in the quarter. Alea Javorowsky got in on the scoring and then Ella Royer made it goal four and five of the first quarter to give the Wildcats a 9-0 lead. Anastasia Giannoulis capped the Wildcats' scoring in the quarter, finishing off a feed from Javorowsky.
Converse started the second quarter with a goal but then Amelie Gamache scored twice around Royer's sixth goal of the game to make it 13-2. The Valkyries carried momentum into the halftime break, scoring the final two goals to make it a 13-4 game at the half.
Converse scored three straight to claw to within 14-7 midway through the third, but then the teams traded goals the rest of the way in the third, as Javorowsky scored again to make it 16-8 in favor of the Wildcats going into the fourth quarter.
The Wildcats put away any thought of a Converse comeback, scoring three straight to start the fourth. Javorowsky finished off the scoring with a free position goal, making it a 20-9 victory.
Ella Royer led all scorers with eight points, scoring seven goals while adding an assist and a game-high eight draws. Makenzie Stritzinger scored five goals to go with an assist while Amelie Gamache scored three goals and added four assists, five draws, and a team high three caused turnovers. Alea Javorowsky finished with three goals and an assist while Anastasia Giannoulis added two goals and two assists. Katie Vindigni made nine saves in the victory.
The Wildcats' Carolina journey wraps up on Saturday as they travel to Wilson, North Carolina, to battle Barton. The opening draw is set for 11:00 a.m.