Wheeling, W. Va. - After a three-week break from competition, the Wheeling University Women's Lacrosse team (2-2, 0-0) made their return to the field on Friday morning when they battled Rockhurst. It was an early onslaught that put the Cardinals behind, and they could never recover as they fell 23-4. Three different Cardinals scored goals on the day as Wheeling looks to rebound in their final non-conference battle Wednesday before conference play.
Leading the way for the Cardinals was Trinity Rose, who finished with a pair of goals, while finishing with four points on the day. Rose's first goal would come at the 10:19 mark of the first quarter, after she was set up with a free position opportunity. Rose would take advantage, finding the back of the net and making the game 6-2 in the early stages of play. Her next goal would come in the final five minutes of play after it was Rose who caused a turnover to set up a free position. Klara Domachowska would connect with Rose under the net, and the ball would find the netting for the Cardinal's third goal of the day. Rose was the Cardinal's leading shot taker, with five, putting two of those five shots into the back of the net. She was also leader on the defensive end, tying for the team lead with one caused turnover, while leading the way with three draw controls and four groundballs.
The Cardinal's scoring was started by Jovie Noack, who finished with one goal and one point in the contest. After the Hawks put five goals on the board in a span of three minutes, Sophia Cirone would win the first draw control of the day as the Cardinals went on the attack. Julia Daniels would send a shot high, but Noack was there behind the net for the groundball. She circled in front of the net and fired a shot that got passed the goalkeeper and made it a 5-1 game. The score was Noack's team-leading 13th goal of the season and marked the third time in the team's first four games that she has gotten on the scoresheet. Like Rose, Noack also made her presence known on the defensive side, adding a caused turnover to tie for the team lead while picking up two groundballs.
The final Cardinal goal on the day would come courtesy of Cirone in the final two and a half minutes of play. After a shot by teammate Paige Jankowski was saved, Rockhurst tried to complete a clear attempt, but ended up throwing the ball out of bounds. Cirone would bring the ball back into play for the Cardinals and made her way to the front of the net. She took her shot and found the netting to bring the game to what would be its final score at 23-4 with 2:06 to play. Cirone would tie with Rose for the team lead in points with two, while leading the way with one assist on the day. Rose would also finish second on the team with two draw controls and tied for second with one goal in the contest.
On the defensive end, the Cardinals split time in net with Maisy Latus getting the start and playing 29 minutes while Giavonna Perkins made her season debut with 30 minutes played. Latus started the game and then re-entered in the second half, finishing with eight saves on 20 shots faced for a .400 save percentage. Perkins would make her season debut, subbing in at the 7:34 mark of the first quarter and had a strong debut. She finished two saves behind Latus, playing 30 minutes and finishing with six saves in the contest. In front of the net, Rose, Noack, Bre'ya Clopper, and Chantal Marie Klingenburg would each pick up a caused turnover on the day, while Paige Jankowski, Perkis, Clopper, and Domachowska each added two groundballs The final points of the day came from Domachowska, would put up the final points of the day for the Cardinals, adding one assist to round out the contest.
As a team, the Cardinals were efficient throughout the day, taking 15 total shots and putting eight of those on net. As the game went on, the Cardinal's efficiency continued to grow and, in the final quarter they would put four of their six shots on net. The Cardinal goalkeepers did their best to keep the game close, combining for 14 saves on 23 shots faced for a .609 save percentage on the day. The Cardinal's biggest push came in the third quarter, where they made five saves on 10 shots on goal. Wheeling would add a 9-20 mark on clears, while picking up six draw controls in the effort.
The Wheeling University Women's Lacrosse team returns to action on Wednesday, March 19th, when they host IUP with draw control at 4 PM.
