Regular Season Concludes on High Note
Canton, Mo.–The William Penn women’s lacrosse team finished the regular season in strong fashion, defeating the Culver-Stockton Wildcats on the road by a score of 18-9. The Statesmen finish the regular season with an overall record of 6-8 and an even 4-4 mark in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.
The navy and gold wasted no time getting their offense on track. Emily Ferguson (So., Waterloo, N.Y., Exercise Science) won the opening draw control, and only a minute into the game, MacKenzie Petersen (Jr., Albertville, Minn., Public Accounting) scored her first goal. The hosts responded back, but Petersen scored once again to retake the lead. Bailee Royal (Jr., Hallsville, Texas, Sports Management) then added a score on a free position attempt, and Jenna Donlan (Jr., Tampa, Fla., Business Management) joined in the scoring to give WPU a 4-2 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Both teams started slow in the second, but the Wildcats cut the lead to one once again with a goal five minutes into the quarter. Royal answered with her second, but the hosts once again pulled within one with six minutes left in the half.
A flurry of goals for WPU through the final five minutes of the half sent the Statesmen into the half with a 10-4 lead as they closed the second quarter on a 5-0 scoring run. Kenzington Winget (Fr., West Jordan, Utah, Sports Management) began the run with a free position goal, then two scores apiece from Royal and Ashlyn Hoffman (So., Bend, Ore., Nursing), including one in the waning seconds of the half from Hoffman, punctuated an impressive offensive outburst.
Even as Culver-Stockton opened the second half with two scores in the first few minutes of play, the Statesmen offense stayed hot. Ferguson joined in on the scoring off an assist from Royal, and was fed by Royal once again later in the half. Petersen, already with two scores in the game, was nearly unstoppable in the third, as she scored thrice to push her total for the game up to five.
The 15-6 lead was plenty in the fourth as both teams scored three times in the final frame. Hoffman and Donlan each added one more to their lines, and Paola Cruz (Jr., Ocala, Fla., Biology) earned her first of the game as well. The 18-9 victory was WPU’s largest margin of victory this season.
Petersen led the scoring with five goals, while Royal complemented her with four. Hoffman also turned in a hat trick, and Ferguson and Donlan chipped in two apiece.
Ferguson won five controls, while Winget and Victoria Negron (So., Miami, Fla., Exercise Science) were both strong factors on defense, forcing two turnovers each. Madison Reed (Jr., Shakopee, Minn., Secondary Education) finished the game with eight saves.
“Today was one of the best performances we’ve had this year,” said Head Coach Katelyn Sherman. “Offense was clicking and defense was taking great risks. I’m so proud of them and excited for playoffs this weekend!”
What’s Next: The Statesmen will play in the KCAC quarterfinals against the Ottawa Braves. The game will be hosted in Ottawa, Kansas at a time yet to be determined.
