EDWARDSVILLE, Pa. --- The Moravian University women's lacrosse squad scored 11 first quarter goals on the way to defeating host Wilkes University, 23-2, to begin the 2024 Landmark Conference season Saturday.

How It Happened

• The Hounds needed just 34 seconds to take the lead with a goal from junior midfielder Alex Cherenson. Junior midfielder Madi Dippel netted two goals while sophomore midfielder Victoria Salica and junior attack Jackie Salvatore both had one goal as the Blue & Grey took a 5-0 lead. The Colonels got onto the scoreboard with 5:40 left in the first quarter before Moravian countered with six goals to end the period. Freshman midfielder Bailey Leatherman and Cherenson each had two goals during the run while Salvatore and freshman attack Melissa Elefonte both added one goal for an 11-1 edge after 15 minutes of action
• Cherenson opened the second quarter with three goals before Dippel found the net. Cherenson recorded two more goals to send the Greyhounds to the intermission with a 17-1 edge
• Dippel began the third period with a goal before Salvatore found the cage with 6:34 left in the quarter for the 100th goal of her career, making her the tenth Greyhound to reach the milestone. Cherenson and Dippel both tallied another marker as the Blue & Grey led 21-1 after 45 minutes of play
• Salvatore netted a goal early in the fourth quarter while Wilkes scored late. Moravian finished off the scoring with a goal from sophomore midfielder Gianna Lotito as time wound down 

Inside the Numbers

• Moravian had seven players record a point with Cherenson netting a career high nine goals to go with an assist, two ground balls, two draw controls and a pair of caused turnovers
• Dippel netted five goals to go along with an assist, 10 draw controls, two caused turnovers and two ground balls while Salvatore contributed four goals to raise her career total to 101 to go with six assists and seven draw controls
• Leatherman had two goals and an assist while Elefonte recorded a goal, three assists, seven ground balls and three cause turnovers
• Salica added a goal and two assists while Lotito had a goal
• Sophomore goalie Kayla Graef posted five saves and scooped up three ground balls in 30 minutes of action while freshman goal Elle Burd made one save in the second half
• Moravian held a 40-9 edge in shots, a 23-17 advantage in ground balls and a 20-6 edge in draw controls while going 13-for-14 on clearing attempts

Up Next for the Greyhounds

• Thursday, March 28 at Susquehanna University, 5:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 3 vs. Goucher College, 4:00 p.m.