Wildcats open season at Clark University with a 16-2 loss

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Clark University women's lacrosse team pulled off an impressive effort in the first varsity game in program history as hat tricks from Elysia Hall (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) and Iris Knowles (Clifton, N.J.) helped propel the Cougars to a 16-2 non-conference victory over Bay Path at Granger Field. 

The Basics

Score: Cougars 16, Wildcats 2 

Records: Clark University (1-0, 0-0 NEWMAC) | Bay Path University (0-1, 0-0 CCC)

How it Happened

Hall posted three goals on eight shots while scooping up seven ground balls in the victory while Knowles tallied four points on three goals and an assist in the team's first contest. First-year Kiley Simmons (Atkinson, N.H.) added to the list of multi-goal scorers in the game, finding the net twice on three shots on goal. The team finished with 11 different goal-scorers in all. 

For Bay Path, Emmeline Bronson had both goals for the visiting Wildcats while Joanna Feliciano scooped up four ground balls and won three draws. 

The Cougars came out on fire in the first game of the program scoring seven straight unanswered goals averaging a little over a goal every minute. The first-ever goal for the women's lacrosse team was scored by sophomore Ilah Hardersen (Buckley, Wash.) as she can enjoy an iconic mark for Clark University Athletics.

After the long string of goals from the Cougars, capped off by a snipe from Knowles, Bay Path tallied its first of the game as Bronson broke the streak to make it a 7-1 score with 21 minutes to play in the first half. 

Clark went right back to work as another tear of seven straight goals, including the first of the season from Anna Joyce (Hopkinton, Mass.), Sienna Sorbello (Peterborough, N.H.) and a pair from Hall who tallied back-to-back goals for the host. From there, senior Ronni Pelletier (Topsham, Maine) net the first of her career before Knowles registered her second of the day with 12:42 remaining in the half. Erica Pellegrino (Sudbury, Mass.) notched the last marker of the half, sending the Cougars to the locker room with seven straight goals and a 14-1 margin. 

After the break, Bronson cut into the lead just 30 seconds into the second half to pick up her second of the game and make it a 14-2 deficit. But the Cougars weren't finished as Sophie Didier (Overland Park, Kans.) and Elaine LaBarbera (South Deerfield, Mass.) each cashed in on their first goals of the season to provide the 16-2 victory. 

Clark finished 17-for-20 on the faceoff circle (85%) while outshooting Bay Path by a 27-4 spread. The Cougs also led in saves resulting in a 4-2 advantage.

Up Next

The Cougars hit the road for the first test away from Granger as they travel to Rivier for a 6:00 PM non-conference matchup. 

Recap courtesy of the Clark University Sports information Department