DAVENPORT, Fla. --- The Moravian College women's lacrosse team scored nine straight goals midway through the first half to pull away and post a 19-8 non-conference victory over Ave Maria (Fla.) University at Northeast Regional Park in Davenport, Florida Sunday evening.
The Hounds, now 2-0 on the season, had eight goal scorers in the match led by senior attack Jillian Picciuto, who had five goals and two assists as she became the first player in school history to reach 300 career points on 190 goals and 111 assists. Picciuto also added five draw controls and two ground balls.
Sophomore attach Danielle Sullivan netted four goals to go with an assist while junior attack Liz Bill had three goals and a pair of ground balls. Sophomore midfielder Meaghan McMullan contributed two goals, five assists and six draw controls while freshman midfielder Lindsey Strohl added two goals, four draw controls and a pair of ground balls. Sophomore defender Olivia Clearie had a goal, an assist, two ground balls and a pair of draw controls while senior attack Dalia Aguilar and sophomore attack Breanna Federico each scored one goal.
Sophomore Courtney Heist made the start in goal with two saves in the opening 30 minutes of action for her first collegiate win while senior Kelley Gavin recorded seven saves in the second half. Sophomore defender Maecy Chlebowski scooped up two ground balls.
The Hounds would have a 30-20 advantage in shots, a 17-11 edge in ground balls, an 18-10 advantage in draw controls and went 9-for-14 on clears out of the defense end.
Picciuto opened the scoring just 20 seconds into the contest; however, Ave Maria tied the contest at 1-1 a minute and a half later. Sullivan and Picciuto each scored as the Greyhounds moved in front 3-1, and Aguilar had a goal sandwiched by two for Ave Maria as the Blue and Grey led 4-3 after nine minutes of action. Sullivan and McMullan each found the net in the next minute and a half for a 6-3 lead before Ave Maria scored again. Clearie would start the Greyhounds' 9-0 run off of a pass from McMullan with 18 minutes left before the intermission, and when Picciuto scored her fifth goal of the match for her 300th point at the 9:43 mark, Moravian had run out to a 15-4 lead. The Hounds would head to the intermission with a 17-5 advantage.
Strohl and Sullivan scored in the first seven minutes of the second half for the Blue and Grey before Ave Maria netted the final three goals of the evening.
The Greyhounds are scheduled to return to action on Tuesday, March 5 when the squad plays at NCAA Division II Rollins University at 7:30 p.m.
