Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 2/20/22
From Arcadia Press Release
The Arcadia University women’s lacrosse team won its season opener Saturday as it defeated Elizabethtown, 11-10, in the coaching debut of first-year head coach Hannah Wszalek (West Chester East, Penn).
Ashley Starkey scored five goals in her Arcadia debut and Maddie Ruger (Strath Haven) added another three for the Knights. In total, five Knights found the back of the net in the victory.
Emily Griffith made 10 saves in the season-opening victory.
Arcadia scored the first goal of the game as Hannah McAllister opened the scoring. The Blue Jays scored the next two goals before Starkey netted her first of the game. Elizabethtown took the lead once again, before Starkey converted from the free position to tie the game at three at the end of the first quarter.
Starkey added another from the free position to give the Knights a 4-3 lead. The Blue Jays tied the game at four, but the Knights scored the final two goals of the second quarter through Ruger and Olivia Poley, who scored the first goal of her career.
The third quarter began with Starkey scoring her fourth of the game. Ruger then scored her second of the contest to give Arcadia an 8-4 lead. The Blue Jays scored to make the score 8-5, but Skyler Acker scored to extend the Knights lead back to four. Elizabethtown scored the next three goals to get within one, 9-8. Starkey and Ruger answered back to give the Knights an 11-8 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Elizabethtown scored two goals in the final frame to make the score 11-10, but the Knights held on to start the season 1-0.
Wszalek formerly was head coach at Drexel.
KNIGHT LEADERS
Goals: Starkey (5), Ruger (3)
Assists: Tessa O’Donnell (1, Quakertown)
Shots: Starkey (7), Ruger (6)
Ground Balls: McAllister (4), Acker/Gabrielle Fellows (3)
Caused Turnovers: 6 players (1)
Saves: Griffith (10)
