The No. 9 Missouri Baptist University women's lacrosse team defeated (RV) Ottawa University (Kan.) on home turf Wednesday, March 4, to bump its season record to 4-2.
The Spartans jumped out to an early lead, netting seven shots in the first seven minutes. Five different players led the charge, with three scores from
Skyler Morrissey, senior attacker, and two from
Alexis Taylor, junior midfielder.
Marissa Oldham, junior attacker,
Sophia Rose, graduate attacker, and
Jackie Oehler, senior defender, contributed one each. This marked Oehler's first goal of the season and second of her career.
The Braves finally answered after ten minutes of play with a free-position goal (FPG).
The Spartans held an 8-2 lead going into the second frame, with nine shots on goal compared to Ottawa's singular attempt.
Oldham tallied another pair of goals in the next stint, and two more Spartans got in on the action.
JaHyghness Ward, freshman midfielder, scored her fifth career goal in a free position shot (FPS).
Delaney Pechnik, junior midfielder, followed with one of her own seven seconds after.
Pechnik is the team's leading scorer and No. 8 goalscorer in the NAIA this season. She was named the Heart of America Athletic Conference Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week on Feb. 23, and Offensive Player of the Week on Feb. 16.
Taylor collected her third goal of the game to put the Spartans up 13-4 at half.
After the break, MBU brought back the heat, adding four more goals while holding the Braves scoreless. Ward and Pechnik buried one each, and Morrissey tallied another two.
With a 13-point spread, the clock was left running for the remaining 15 minutes. The Spartans held a comfortable 17-4 lead going into the fourth.
Octavia Bookman, freshman goalie, geared up for the final stretch of the game, subbing out sophomore starter
Rachel Livak. Livak protected the net with five saves in three quarters of play.
MBU did not let up until the final buzzer sounded. Pechnik heated up with two more goals, bringing her total to four for the game. Rose and Taylor added one more each, both assisted by
Madison Terrell, junior attacker.
Morrissey led both teams in scoring and tied her career-high with five goals.
Ottawa finally ended its two-quarter drought in the last 36 seconds of the game. The effort was too little too late, as the Spartans cruised to a 21-5 victory.
The women's lacrosse team hits the road on Monday, March 16, to face No. 2 University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) at 1 p.m.
