SAINT PAUL, Minn. — The UW-River Falls women's lacrosse team cruised to a 23-4 victory over Hamline on Wednesday, April 16 in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The win improved UWRF's record on the season to 9-5 overall and 4-3 in WIAC play. The Falcons built a huge lead early on and never looked back, as the team never trailed and finished the game just short of several broken records on offense.
The first quarter saw UWRF build up a massive advantage in shots, leading 13-1 in shots on goal and 16-1 in total shots. The high volume of opportunities led to a 9-0 lead after the first period, putting the Falcons in the driver's seat. UWRF saw goals from Samantha Hayek (x2), Kylah Link (x2), Avery Watzke (x2), Molly Pierce, Brooke Glumack, and Megan Peter. Hayek assisted on three of the goals.
The Falcons added five more goals in the second quarter, bringing the game to a running clock midway through and leading 14-0 at halftime. UWRF benefited from goals by Elizabeth Clough (x2), Hayek, and Pierce. The Falcons held a 4-1 advantage in shots on goal in the second quarter.
UWRF extended its lead to 20-0 by the end of the third quarter, scoring six goals off six shots on goal. The Falcons tallied goals from Piper Perron (x2) , Kylah Link, Mia Hunter, Natasha Berthiaume, and Avery Watzke.
Hamline held a 4-3 advantage in goals in the fourth quarter, but River Falls held on to its large advantage through the final whistle, winning by a margin of 23-4.
Hayek finished with a game-high six points off three goals and three assists. Perron and Brooke Glumack both totaled four points, with Perron doing so off three goals and one assist, and Glumack totaling three assists and one goal. In the net, Isabel Orton received the win — she allowed no goals and made two saves. Abby Hammond made three saves and Annelise Rommeck totaled one save.
The 23 goals by the Falcons was just two shy of tying the program record for most goals in a game. UWRF totaled 37 points, which is also two short of tying a program single-game record.
Up next, the Falcons will return to River Falls for a WIAC matchup against UW-Stevens Point on April 23. The game is set to begin at 6 p.m. at Ramer Field.