Ninth-ranked Colby tops Owls Lacrosse

WESTFIELD MA – #9  Colby College midfielder Julia Jardina (Louisville, KY) scores seven goals as the #9 Colby College Mules take down the Westfield State Owls 20-6 in a non-conference matchup on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field in Westfield Mass. 

For the Owls, sophomore attack Arianna Andresen (Port Jefferson Station, NY) scored a first quarter hat trick. Her hat trick in today's game marks her second straight hat trick and her fourth straight game with at least a goal. 

The #9 ranked Mules improve to 9-5 overall (4-4 NESCAC conference) on the season. 

The Owls fall to 8-6 overall (3-0 MASCAC conference) on the season. 

The first quarter was close but a strong second from the Mules quickly put the game out of reach. 

The Mules were first on the board with an unassisted goal from Jardina at the 12:42 mark in the first. The Owls answered back with ten to go in the first after a free-position shot from Andresen was deflected by Mules goalkeeper Sarah Hearns (South Hamilton, MA), Owls' Lindsey Bohenko (Lowell, MA) received the inbounded pass from Kiely Hafenstiener (Niskayuna, NY) at the top of the crease. Bohenko cradled the ball until she sent a pass to the stick of Andresen who fired a shot past the shoulder of Hearns and into the net. 

The Owls tied the game up at 1-1 with 10:16 to go in the first quarter, this is the closest they would get to the #9 Mules. 

The Mules then went on to score five straight goals in six minutes. The last two goals of the run came when the Mules were in man down position. Jardina had the assist on the man-down goal scored by Stella Regan (Franklin, MA). Jardina then netted her own goal to make the score 6-1 with 1:48 to go in the first quarter. 

The Owls ended the first quarter with two free position goals from Andresen to cut the lead to 6-3. The first of the two, was a bounce shot that went just under the stick of Hearns. The second free position goal was a soaring shot that went to the top right corner of the net. The Owls went 2-3 in free position attempts throughout the game. 

The Mules opened up the second quarter with a six goal run. With three goals from Jardina. The Owls trailed 12-3 with seven minutes to play in the half. 

The Owls cut into the lead with 6:25 to play after Jessica Connors (Scarborough, MA) found the stick of Natalie DeMaio (Westwood, MA) who fired a shot that went over the shoulder of Hearn. DeMaio's goal made the score 12-4. 

A goal from Jardina built the lead back up to 13-4 with 6:10 to go in the half. The Owls avoided running time in the second quarter as Bohenko found the stick of Emma Prattson (Tolland, CT) who scored making it 13-5 with three minutes to go. The Mules closed the half with Jardina's seventh goal of the game, giving them a 14-5 lead entering the break. 

With five minutes to go in the third quarter, a goal from Cami McDonald (Hopkinton, MA) assisted by Julia Maimonis (Lexington, MA) gave the Mules a ten goal lead, 15-5, sending the game into running time.

The #9 Colby College Mules would go on to score five more goals. For the Owls, Hafensteiner scored a goal with eight minutes to go in the game.  

For the Owls, goalkeeper Kara Banagan (Niskayuna, NY) made nine saves in the loss. Goalkeeper Sydney Smith (Dalton, MA) had four saves. 

For the Mules, goalkeeper Hearns had three saves in the win. Goalkeeper Gigi Peloso (Princeton, NJ) had two saves. 

For the Owls, Andresen led with three goals and Bohenko with two assists. 

For the Mules, Jardina led with seven goals and Ainsley Dion (North Andover, MA) and Kins Helmer (Oakton, VA) both recorded team highs of two assists.

The next game for the #9 Mules is home on Saturday April 20 at 12:00 pm versus conference opponent Williams College. 

The next game for the Owls is home on Wednesday April 17 at 7:00 pm versus conference opponent Worcester State.