WPU Wins Conference Opener, Breaks Wins Record
Oskaloosa–The William Penn’s women’s lacrosse team set a new standard Tuesday as it posted a 22-2 blowout over Missouri Valley in its Heart of America Athletic Conference opener Tuesday.
William Penn (7-1, 1-0 Heart) recorded a 28-8 advantage in shots, while also winning 18 of the 28 draw controls. With the victory, the Statesmen have already broken the single-season wins record. The previous mark of six came in 2021 and 2022.
The Statesmen controlled the game from the start, finding the back of the net 10 times in the first quarter. MacKenzie Petersen (Sr., Albertville, Minn., Public Accounting) scored the first goal just 37 seconds in with Kenzington Winget (So., West Jordan, Utah, Sports Management) getting the assist. Bailee Royal (Sr., Hallsville, Texas, Sports Management) then beat the MVC goalkeeper 34 seconds later with Winget again helping.
Jenna Donlan (Sr., Tampa, Fla., Business Management) scored the next two goals, while Emily Ferguson (Jr., Waterloo, N.Y., Exercise Science) posted the following three, extending the lead to 7-0 with 8:15 still left in the first stanza. Ashlyn Hoffman (Jr., Bend, Ore, Nursing) got into the action with a pair of unassisted tallies, while Winget capped the first-quarter scoring on the team’s fourth free position goal of the period.
Hoffman started off the second quarter with another goal and then the Statesmen offense slowed way down, not scoring for over 10 minutes. Annie Gruber (Jr., Eagan, Minn., Psychology) finally broke the scoreless stretch with a free position goal and WPU entered halftime up 12-0.
Ferguson, off a pass from Royal, opened up the second-half scoring, while Tara Dryml (Sr., Independence, Iowa, Elementary Education) managed to get on the board to make it 14-0. Missouri Valley (0-6, 0-1 Heart) then finally broke through at the 9:17 mark of the third, but Hoffman, Winget, and Petersen (Hoffman assisted) all answered to make it 17-1 entering the fourth.
Paola Cruz (Sr., Ocala, Fla, Biology) became the ninth William Penn goal scorer of the day, putting away two attempts. Petersen (twice) and Ferguson also recorded tallies to finish off the lopsided matchup.
Ferguson paced the navy and gold with five goals, while Hoffman and Petersen were both perfect, converting on all four of their shots. The trio of Cruz, Donlan, and Winget also added two goals each. Exactly half of WPU’s 22 scores were assisted with Winget notching three helpers. The foursome of Cruz, Donlan, Dryml, and Hoffman each had parts in two assists as well Tuesday.
Madison Reed (Sr., Shakopee, Minn., Secondary Education) produced three saves in a quiet evening.
Next Up: William Penn will remain in Oskaloosa Saturday, hosting Culver-Stockton in Heart action at 2 p.m.
