ADRIAN, Mich. — On Friday, February 24, the Adrian College women's lacrosse team dominated Illinois Tech. with a 19-4 victory. Melaina Springer led Adrian College with five goals, while eight individual Bulldogs recorded at least one goal during the afternoon.
How It Happened
The women's lacrosse team started the 2023 season with both poise and aggressiveness Friday. With only 19 seconds into the Bulldogs season, sophomore Sophie Mondro ripped a shot into the back of the net to set the tone for Friday, propelling the women's lacrosse team to an early 1-0 lead. The Bulldogs would need less than 30 seconds to see their second goal of the match. This time, instead of scoring, Mondro would be at the assisting end of a Bulldog goal. At the 14:13 mark of the first quarter, Mondro found her teammate Melaina Springer to give the women's lacrosse team a two-point cushion. The women's lacrosse team continued to dominate, scoring three more goals to end the first. After two more goals by Mondro and one by Joscelyn Potter, the women's lacrosse team led 5-0 after the first quarter of play.
"After coming out a little flat in the first, we realized that we weren't playing our game. Going into the second we really started to see more of that Bulldog lacrosse", explained Coach Bills. In the second quarter, the Bulldogs ramped up their intensity on the defensive end, as Illinois Tech. recorded 10 turnovers in the quarter. After building an 8-0 lead, Illinois Tech. would respond, closing the second quarter with two goals in the final 3:25 of the half. The women's lacrosse team entered intermission up 9-2.
In the second half, the Bulldogs continued to keep their foot on the gas pedal by outscoring Illinois Tech. 10-2 in the games final two quarters. "Our offense took care of business on the attacking end, our transitions looked crisp, and the most important thing was that the girls were having fun out there," said Coach Bills. During the third quarter, the women's lacrosse team continued their scoring barrage, netting a game-high eight goals in the quarter. In the third, seven individual Bulldogs scored goals and the women's lacrosse team took a 17-4 lead heading into the fourth and final quarter.
"I'm very pleased with our defensive unit, with how they communicated and positioned themselves throughout the game", explained Bills. The Bulldogs would never trail a single second during the entirety of the game. The women's lacrosse team would see its greatest lead of the game at 15, after Springer sliced her second goal of the quarter into the back of the net, giving the Bulldogs a 19-4 advantage with less than eight minutes remaining in the game.
Top Dawgs
The freshman Springer notched a game high five goals in her debut for the Bulldogs Friday afternoon. Additionally, the sophomore Mondro tacked on four goals and two assists to tie Springer's game high of six points.
Historical Notes
After Friday's 19-goal barrage, the women's lacrosse team recorded at least 19 goals in a game for the first time since Wednesday, March 2, 2022, when the Bulldogs would go on to defeat Rochester University 20-0.
Up Next
The women's lacrosse team will return to action on Tuesday, February 28, on the road against Greensboro College at 4:00 PM. Entering Tuesday's matchup, the women's lacrosse team leads 1-0 in the all-time series against Greensboro.
