PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Three different players recorded hat tricks as the Johnson & Wales University women's lacrosse team posted a 12-9 win over Wentworth Institute of Technology in non-conference action at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletics Complex.
With the win, the Wildcats pick up their first-ever women's lacrosse victory and improve to 1-1 on the season. The Leopards, playing in their season opener, slip to 0-1.
Freshman Lydia Knapp (Glens Falls, N.Y.) had four goals and two assists while sophomore Anna Oshiro (Gloucester, Mass.) notched three goals and an assist in the victory. Sophomore Jessica Schmell (Coopersberg, Pa.) also had a hat trick for the Wildcats.
Sophomore Pam Mudge (Hooksett, N.H.) notched five goals for Wentworth while junior Jessica Houghton (Billerica, Mass.) tallied a hat trick in the setback for the Leopards.
Johnson & Wales jumped out to the early 4-0 lead after a goal by Knapp just 6:49 into the contest. The two teams then traded goals throughout the remainder of the first half with JWU taking a 7-4 lead heading into halftime. The Wildcats pushed it back to a four-goal advantage when an unassisted goal by Schmell at the 11:14 mark of the second half made the score 10-6. That goal would prove to be the game-winner as the Wildcats held on for the 12-9 victory. JWU had a 39-27 advantage in shots for the contest.
Junior Genevieve Giampietro (Meriden, Conn.) made 12 saves in the victory for Johnson & Wales while junior Robyn Pacini (Stoneham, Mass.) had 16 stops in the setback for Wentworth.
The Wildcats will return to action on Thursday, March 6th when they host Regis in a non-conference contest at 1:00 p.m. That same day, Wentworth hosts Colby-Sawyer at 6:00 p.m.
(Portions of this recap courtesy of Johnson & Wales Sports Information)