GREENWOOD – Smothering defense, efficient offense and an overall rebound effort following the season-opener resulted in a dominant 11-4 win for No. 25 Lander women's lacrosse over in-state counterpart Newberry on Wednesday evening at Van Taylor Stadium.
The Bearcats (1-1) were in command from the start as they opened up a 5-0 lead on the Wolves by the midway point of the second quarter.
Leading all scorers with a hat-trick was freshman
Morgan Hill – it was her second hat-trick in as many games – and she also added a pair of caused turnovers and ground balls.
Kylie Fragala's two goals and two assists made her the high-point-getter while
Caroline Nicholson,
Emelia Tippett and
Sophie Warren each scored twice.
Kaia Morey chipped in a pair of caused turnovers and three ground balls to lead the defense, and
Zoe Cotheran made a half dozen saves to pick up her first win.
Ella Benson had a team-high four of LU's 10 draw controls.
Warren got the Bearcats going five minutes in with her second goal of the season. A minute later,
Kayla Smith found Nicholson in traffic who then ripped one past the Newberry (3-1, 1-0 South Atlantic Conference) goalie for a two-goal advantage.
An opportune Fragala scored on a free-position attempt early in the second quarter before she assisted Hill on Goal No. 4 13 minutes before halftime.
Tippett also converted a free-position chance with 5:35 left; LU went into the half up 5-1.
Hill sandwiched third-quarter goals around Fragala's second of the game as she completed her hat-trick with two seconds on the clock to send the Bearcats into the fourth with an 8-3 cushion.
Tippett, Nicholson and Warren netted the final goals.
The Blue and Gold outshot the Scarlet and Gray 26-19 with a 10-9 edge in shots on goal by game's end.
Lander will take a trip to Wingate, N.C., to face the No. 15 Bulldogs on Sunday (Feb. 22) at 1 p.m.
