READING, PA - Susquehanna University women's lacrosse picked up their second consecutive win Tuesday night with a swift 11-3 win at Alvernia where they scored the first nine goals of the game. The night was also one for the record books as
Liv Owen became the program's all-time career assists leader, while in the process surpassing the century mark as her two assists put her at 101 lifetime. She bested the previous record of 100 set just a few years ago by Caroline Chase.
While the final result was staggering, it took a little bit for the River Hawks to get the scoring started. After a contentious opening ten minutes where both defenses shut down any chances of early leads, it was
Allie Kutler that broke the ice with an unassisted score with 4:08 left in the first period. That seemed to be all the first quarter would offer on the scoring front until Susquehanna beat the clock to make it 2-0 as Owen used the dramatics to account for her 100th career assist by giving it to
Abby Andrus with one second left on the clock for a 2-0 lead at the end of one. The River Hawks picked up the pace in the second quarter, offering four goals in the frame that led to a 6-0 halftime advantage.
Emma Kelleher got on the board with an unassisted score, with the same going for
Jessica Russo and Owen to lead, 5-0. Owen decided that the team's next goal would be her pass into history, giving it to
Sloane Coddington to achieve the all-time career mark for assists and give the team the six-goal lead at the half.
Goalie
Aerin O'Brien proved masterful in net once again, keeping the Wolves off the board through the first three quarters as she had seven saves on the night. While Alvernia scrambled in hopes of breaking through, Susquehanna kept the pressure on by offering three more scores in the third. Owen found the net for her second goal of the day, assisted by Kelleher early in the frame.
Nicolette Genovese made it 8-0 moments later off an assist by
Sophia Trively, after which Owen notched her third goal of the game unassisted with four minutes left in the third. Though Alvernia countered with three fourth-quarter goals, it did little to turn the tide as Russo put the finishing touches on for Susquehanna by scoring both the team's fourth-quarter goals. Her first goal was good for a highlight reel as she got a pass from Abby Gearhart in front of the net, which she flicked over the goalie's head almost like a knuckleball and floated in. Her next goal was unassisted that made the score 11-2.
Owen is also near the 200 career points milestone and 100 career goals as her five-point day on three goals and two assists marks 191 career points with 90 goals. Kelleher's two points on one goal and one assist puts her on the doorstep of 99 career points on 63 goals and 36 assists. These efforts afforded Susquehanna a 27-19 lead in shots and 21-10 in shots on goal against Alvernia, along with nine draw controls to the Wolves' seven as Kutler grabbed five for SU. Coddington added three more.
Tuesday's victory marked the team's last non-conference matchup of the season as it's strictly down to Landmark Conference play onward. After a 14-4 win over Drew Saturday to start their conference season, Susquehanna, now 4-5 overall and 1-0 in the Landmark, prepare to do battle on the road at Moravian Saturday, Mar. 29 and at Catholic Wednesday, April 2. These upcoming matchups represent the River Hawks' opposition last year in the Landmark Tournament, where they won a thriller over the Greyhounds at home in the Landmark quarterfinals and then the Cardinals in the semifinals where their season ended. Susquehanna's next home game is Lycoming on Saturday, April 5.
