LIVONIA, Mich. - The Madonna Women's Lacrosse Team (1-7, 0-3) hosted Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference opponent, the (RV) Siena Heights Saints (2-5, 1-3). Despite three tough losses in conference play coming into this game, the Crusaders played with an energy that they haven't all season, balling out on the nationally-ranked Saints in all four quarters. They ran them off the field 16-6 as the Crusaders displayed their most dominant performance of the season so far, and moved up to 1-3 and eighth in the conference.

HOW IT HAPPENED

On what started as another cold and rainy day for Crusaders' women's lacrosse, the team burst onto the field with an energy and excitement that they haven't tapped into this season. They came out firing as Jasmine Stringham stole the first draw control of the day away from Siena Heights' midfielder, immediately leading to an Aria Gettel goal in the opening minute of play. Their captain and leading scorer was just getting warmed up as before the Saints knew what hit them, Gettel had already secured her second goal of the day off of an assist from fellow captain Mia Dyson.

The Saints would tie up the game at 2-2, but Dyson would quickly take back the lead with a free position shot for the Crusaders. Stringham continued to dominate on draw controls, putting the Crusaders in a great position to run up quick goals. Senior Courtney Hoeland would score her first goal of the game with a reach-around shot from behind the net, sneaking it in as the possession-clock buzzed. In a woman-up situation, Hoeland would follow her goal up by hitting Gettel with an assist that led to her third goal of the day already.

To end the first period, Dyson would take over the game. The transfer from Keiser University and the team's second leading scorer showed why she is a two-time NAIA national champion as she scored three straight goals in the final two minutes of the period. The last one came with only six seconds remaining in the period, as Dyson quite literally knocked down a pass from Gettel and swept it by the goalie for the impressive score. With Dyson's dominant effort, the Crusaders ran away with an 8-3 lead after one period.

Gettel's effort and speed allowed her to run down a Siena Heights midfielder and cause a turnover immediately after the period's opening draw control. Her efforts gave Hoeland the opportunity to score her second goal of the day as the Crusaders extended their lead. Freshman Rianna O'Connor would then hit Gettel with an incredibly precise pass just out of reach of the Saints' defender for Gettel's fourth goal of the first half. Despite her incredible efforts thus far, Dyson jumped past her as the day's leading scorer as she secured her fifth goal of the afternoon just before the team headed to their halftime break, now up 11-3.

Following a Saints turnover, Hoeland would take advantage, scoring her third goal of the game, a season high for the senior from Waldwick, New Jersey. Finding themselves in another woman-up situation, the Crusaders made the most of it as freshman standout LeeAnn Johnson scored off of a pass from Gettel to give the Crusaders their first double-digit lead of the season, 13-3. 

Following a great clear late in the game, Gettel seemingly stole the Saints' goalie's attention as sophomore Katie Potter was able to slip right behind her, leading to a wide-open Crusader goal by Potter from Gettel. Not a minute later, Gettel would hit Dyson with a smooth pass that led to Dyson's sixth goal of the game. That goal meant Dyson now has back-to-back games with six goals as she continues her dominant campaign during her first season in a Crusader uniform.

The final goal of the day for Madonna came from sophomore attack Zoe Zdunczyk, her first ever collegiate goal. The transfer and former walk-on from Ursuline College (Oh.) had only ever played defense before making the transition to attack earlier this season.

The final strike by Zdunczyk kept the clock running as time ran out on the Saints. The Crusaders rolled past the Saints 16-6 in their first win versus a ranked opponent this season, as they moved to 1-3 in the WHAC.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
 

• Dyson scored six goals, and has now done so in back-to-back games.
• Gettel scored four goals and led the team in both assists, with three, and caused turnovers, with six.
• Hoeland scored a season-high three goals and recorded one assist. 
• Potter scored one goal and recorded one assist.
• Zdunczyk scored her first career goal, and also caused one turnover and picked up one ground ball.
• Johnson scored the third goal of her freshman season.
• Goalie Hannah Dickson had seven clutch saves to halt the Saints' attempt at a comeback.

UP NEXT

The Crusaders hope to continue their conference win streak and climb up the WHAC rankings as they travel down to Sylvania, Ohio to face Lourdes (3-3, 1-3) 1:00 pm on Saturday, April 1st at Wildcat Stadium. 

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