DUBUQUE, Iowa - The evening belonged to Ariannah Ritter.
Ritter, a 5-foot-10 junior midfielder from Sun Prairie, Wis., scored a career-high eight goals to lead the Carroll University women's lacrosse team to a 16-5 victory over the University of Dubuque in a College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin game at Oyen Field on Wednesday night.
It was the seventh road victory of the season for Carroll, which improved to 2-0 in the conference standings and a program-best 11-0 overall.
Carroll is currently in a three-way tie for first place in the league race with North Central (2-0, 11-1) and defending champion Illinois Wesleyan (2-0, 8-4).
The Pioneers led 6-4 at intermission and responded with an explosive 10-1 run in the second half - including eight unanswered goals over a decisive 17-minute span.
Ritter, who became the team's all-time career leader in points earlier this season, scored six times in the second half - highlighted by four consecutive unassisted goals over a nine-minute stretch.
Freshman midfielder Clara Jelacic (Waukesha, Wis.) followed with five goals and an assist for Carroll, which outshot the Spartans 44-21 - maintaining a 36-14 shot-on-goal margin. Freshman midfielder Michaela Johnson (Mukwonago, Wis.) had two goals and an assist.
Freshman midfielder Courtenay Karls (Waukesha, Wis.) added the other goal and senior attacker Betty Koenig (Sun Prairie, Wis.) had an assist for the Pioneers, who attempted 11 free-position shots.
Junior goalkeeper Shelby Schoob (Sun Prairie, Wis.) was a stabilizing force, registering nine saves in playing the entire 60 minutes.
Senior midfielder Breann Tjaarda had a hat trick for University of Dubuque, which dropped to 0-2 in conference and 5-4 overall.