PREVIEW: Dallas vs. Olivet College (3/19)
(Photo Graphic Courtesy of Hannah Miller)
MULTIMEDIA COVERGAE
Video (weather permitting)
RUNDOWN
The University of Dallas women's lacrosse team (2-3) welcomes Olivet College (3-1) to Irving, Texas, on Thursday for a 4 p.m. matchup. Dallas is in the midst of a six-game home stand, and will play the fifth contest of the stretch at the friendly confines.
After dropping the first pair of affairs, the Lady Crusaders have gone on a roll, notching double figure scoring performances to combine for 29 goals and win consecutive games for the first time since 2011.
LAST TIME OUT
On Sunday, Dallas posted a 7-2 halftime advantage, and was able to receive two, four-goal performances from its players en route to a 13-7 victory against Benedictine University. It was the second highest total of netters for UD since its first triumph a week ago in a 16-2 result over Cornell College.
Blasting the quartet of goals in the back of the cage were senior Mary Hilker (Haslett, Mich.) and junior Hayley Rodgers (Houston, Texas). Rodgers collected a team-high, seven ground balls, and the duo shot five of six on goal in the win.
Freshman Erin Chadwick (Tampa Bay, Fla.) contributed a multi-goal performance with two. The rookie has scored eight times on the home stand, and boasted eight shots to pace the Navy and White's 35.
CATEGORY LEADERS
The Lady Crusaders display a trio of players tallying at least eight goals on the campaign, with a majority of them occurring in the recent three games. Chadwick is atop the squad with nine in her first season, and has also dished out a team-most, three assists to have amassed 12 points. She also has shot 28 attempts, with 19 on target.
Hilker and Rodgers are tied with eight to round out the top three leaderboard, and Rodger's one assist pushes her to nine points. Hilker is reflecting a .846 shot on goal percentage (sog%) with 11 of 13 being put on goal. Hilker has claimed hat tricks in both of UD's victories. Rodgers holds the most groundballs with 18.
Senior Christine Jablonsky (Colorado Springs, Colo.) has played 288 minutes in the goalkeeper role, while stopping 53 saves. The keeper has also averaged a 52.5 save percentage clip.
SCOUTING OLIVET
The Comets prevailed 14-4 in their most recent action on Tuesday in the first home game of the year at Olivet, Michigan over Defiance College. A double-digit first stanza was plenty to build the momentum after the home squad scored seven unanswered.
Four players provided all the scoring for the Comets, with Geri Merrell and Brittany Hayes hammering a quartet in the net. Taylor Guarnaccia Mackenzie Inman rounded out the group with three apiece.
OC has played a familiar opponent that marked the Lady Crusaders' calendar this season, with a 19-12 decision over Benedictine. Olivet is 0-1 in its lone road affair, a 21-11 loss to begin the spring.
A trio of players are handling the majority of the netters with Merrell boasting 17, Guarnaccia with 14, and Inman with 13. Guarnaccia has gained 23 draw controls, while Inman and Merrel are nearly identical with 16 and 15, respectively.
Xavier Vance has seen most of the action as the keeper for the Comets, compiling 22 saves and 38 goals allowed in 209:07 minutes.
The programs have never played each other.
UPCOMING SENIOR DAY
Dallas wraps up the only home stand, and final contest at Crusader Field on Sunday, March 22 versus University of North Texas. Start time at 2 p.m.
Prior to the first draw control, the Navy and White will recognize five seniors that will be graduating in May. This includes: Anne Belton (Luray, Va.) , Meghan Falconer (Kohler, Wis.), Anita Villalpando (Baytown, Texas), Hilker, and Jablonsky.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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