MINNEAPOLIS (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's lacrosse team got off to a scorching start and cruised to an 18-5 victory over Augsburg on Monday. The Blugolds scored 10 times in the first quarter to pick up their first win of the season.
The Blugolds got off to a dazzling start, pouring in 10 goals in the opening quarter to seize immediate control. Eight different players scored in the period. Alexie Romanelli (So. – Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) got it started with a goal just 26 seconds into the game, and Samantha Burns (So. – Mahtomedi, Minn.) doubled the lead 29 seconds later.
Riley Domagala (Jr. – Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) made it 3-0 off an assist from Lily Zygowicz (Fr. – Lafayette, Colo./Centaurus) at the 12:41 mark before Burns added a second goal shortly after. Burns also assisted the Blugolds' fifth goal, a strike from Reegan Werner (Fr. – Farmington, Minn.). From there, Peyton Gullickson (Fr. – Rosemount, Minn.), Raegan Valois (Fr. – Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View) and Lydia Wickersham (So. – Janesville, Wis./Milton) all scored once and Devon Crews (Fr. – St. Louis, Mo./Rockwood Summit) added a pair of goals. Ella Novak (So. – Columbia, Md./Oakland Mills) assisted one of Crews' goals.
The Auggies scored in the early stages of the second quarter, but Romanelli made it a 12-1 advantage for the Blugolds with a pair of goals before halftime.
UW-Eau Claire kept the pressure on in the third quarter, scoring four goals across the first eight minutes of the second half. Romanelli scored in the first 40 seconds of the period, and Kylah Krause (Sr. – Belleville, Ill./Belleville East), Crews and Zygowicz followed with goals of their own to stretch the lead to 16-1.
The Auggies tallied four straight goals across the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth, but the Blugolds had an answer in the shape of goals from Crews and Novak to end the game.
Crews led all scorers with four goals. Romanelli finished with three goals. Burns tallied two goals and an assist, and Valois scored twice. Zygowicz had two assists. The Blugolds out-shot the Auggies 43-15 and held a 15-9 advantage in draw controls. UW-Eau Claire collected 29 ground balls compared to 17 for Augsburg.
Alexandria Shea (So. – Kenosha, Wis./Indian Trail) made six saves in goal to earn the victory.
The Blugolds are scheduled to be back on the field with a road game at Aurora on Saturday, March 18. Game time is 1 p.m.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
