MONMOUTH, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University women's lacrosse team dominated Monmouth College in a non-conference bout Wednesday night, March 4, at April Zorn Memorial Stadium. The Titans cruised past the Scots 13-1 to improve to 2-3 on the season, while Monmouth slipped to 0-2.
Sophomore Landry Elliott (Milwaukee, Wis.-Nicolet) paced the Titans with four goals, while senior Amanda Best (Fitchburg, Wis.-Verona Area) and sophomore Cassandra Jones (Elk Grove Village, Ill.-Conant) added hat tricks of their own. Junior Riley Rooney (St. Charles, Ill.-St. Charles East) tallied two goals and sophomore Bridget O'Malley (Chicago, Ill.-Marist) notched one. Junior Maggie Torres (Chicago, Ill.-Resurrection Prep) led the way with three assists, while Best and freshmen Val Villanueva (Chicago, Ill.-Lane Tech) and Carlyn Bratt (Palatine, Ill.-Palatine) recorded one apiece. Overall, IWU held a 32-9 advantage in shots, including a 25-4 lead in shots on target.
Senior Daisy Guerrero (Prospect Heights, Ill.-Wheeling) notched a team-high five ground balls, fueling the Titans to a 21-16 edge in the category. Torres and junior Hannah Foley (Elk Grove Village, Ill.-Conant) caused two turnovers each, and junior Janaye Godfrey (Hillsboro, Ore.-Lincoln) and freshman Rebecca Rymarcsuk (Lake Zurich, Ill.-Lake Zurich Senior) split time in goal. Godfrey earned the win, while Rymarcsuk tallied two saves as IWU held MC to nine shots on the night. IWU went 20-for-22 in clear attempts, while MC finished 14-for-24.
Elliott wasted no time getting Illinois Wesleyan out in front, finding the back of the net twice in the opening three minutes. O'Malley and Best doubled IWU's lead to 4-0 with 12 minutes to go in the first half. Elliott added two more strikes before a man-up goal with 40 seconds to go by Best sent the Titans into the break in front 7-0.
In the second half IWU showed no sign of slowing down as Best buried a goal and Jones net two to extend the Illinois Wesleyan lead to 10-0.
After Monmouth struck on the draw control following Jones' second goal, Jones and Rooney added insurance goals to wrap up the 13-1 victory.
Illinois Wesleyan treks down to the Sunshine State for spring break next week, Monday-Wednesday, March 9-11, for SpringFling 2020. IWU kicks off play in Englewood, Fla. against Westfield State Monday night, March 9, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
