WAUKESHA, Wis. – The Carroll University women's lacrosse team took down Marian University in the first home game of 2023 on Wednesday evening by a score of 19-5.
Clara Jelacic led the team with nine points on six goals and three assists, followed by
Katrina Hardin's six goals.
The Pioneers (3-0) led 9-3 after the first quarter and 15-3 at the end of the first half. Carroll ripped off 13 shots in the first quarter, 11 of which were on target. Marian didn't quit fighting though, winning 11 of 29 draw controls, including seven in the first quarter. Carroll cleared 18 of 29 times and picked up 29 ground balls. The Pios got seven looks at the goal in free position opportunities as well.
Rebecca McDaniel picked up her third win of the season, collecting three saves and allowing the first three Marian goals.
Samantha Hurd scored Carroll's opening goal in the first 13 seconds of the game, assisted by another freshman,
Rebecca Hallman. Jelacic and
Lexi Kaltenberg scored the next three, and Hardin scored her first goal on a free-position shot. Carroll was up 6-0 before Marian won the ensuing draw control and scored on their opening possession. Marian picked up another goal on a free position shot, but Hallman answered the call and scored twice more before the end of the first quarter. Up 9-3 going into the second quarter, Jelacic scored in the opening minute after securing her draw control. Jelacic assisted Kaltenberg on Carroll's next goal, and Hardin followed minutes later with an unassisted score. The Pioneers would take advantage of two player-up opportunities and went into halftime up 15-3.
Marian scored first to open half number two, but Carroll put up three goals that Hardin and/or Jelacic were involved in. Carroll finished the game scoreless in the fourth quarter after Hurd's score in the second minute of the final 15.
The Pioneers will host non-conference rival Aurora on Saturday, March 4 at 5 PM. The two teams have faced off the last three seasons and faced in the opening round of the 2021 NCAA Women's Lacrosse Tournament.
