ADRIAN, Mich. – While 11 players and a goalie play on the field at one time, the Madonna University women's lacrosse team only had nine healthy bodies for Wednesday night's Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference contest with Siena Heights University, a 23-5 loss at O'Laughlin Stadium.

Despite the major disadvantage, the Crusaders put forth one of their best efforts of the season. Sarah Carlson (SR/Woodhaven, Mich.) stepped up in a big way, as she became the fastest Crusader to record a hat trick in program history. All three of her tallies came in the first half and she is the third player to record a hat trick this season. Carlson also added two groundballs, a draw control and a caused turnover to go along with seven shots, six on goal.  

The Saints got on the board first, but Carlson answered 39 seconds later to tie the game at 1-1. Eight unanswered goals by SHU put Madonna in a hole, but Carlson netted two more for a first half hat trick. Siena Heights added four more tallies for a 14-3 halftime lead.

Katherine Buchanan (FR/Fenton, Mich.) got in on the scoring midway through the second half and Briana Warner (FR/Comstock Park, Mich.) netted the Crusaders fifth goal with 2:47 left.

As a team MU attempted 12 shots, won five draw controls, corralled 13 groundballs and managed 12 clears. Crusaders goalie Stephanie Mackley (SR/Livonia, Mich.) saved 17 of the 40 shots she faced on the night and tied with Jordyn Shepler (SR/Livonia, Mich.) for the team lead in groundballs with four.

Madonna falls to 0-7 in its first season and 0-5 in the WHAC while Siena Heights, who came in ranked 10th in the NAIA, improves to 6-3 overall and 3-3 in league play.

The Crusaders wrap up their three-game road trip on Saturday, Apr. 1 when they travel to Ann Arbor to face Concordia University – Ann Arbor at 1:30 p.m.

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