Homefield Advantage Leads Win Over UHSP

Oskaloosa--The Statesmen women's lacrosse team remains undefeated in the young 2023 season, downing non-conference foe Health Sciences and Pharmacy 18-6 in its home opener Sunday.

WPU (3-0) took an early lead in the game, scoring four times in the first quarter, while UHSP (0-1) scored its first goal ever (first year for the program) just before the end of the period. Bailee Royal (Sr., Hallsville, Texas, Sports Management) tallied the first and last goals of the quarter, while MacKenzie Petersen (Sr., Albertville, Minn., Public Accounting) and Emily Ferguson (Jr., Waterloo, N.Y., Exercise Science) got in on the action themselves.

UHSP was able to hold up in the second quarter, pacing the Statesmen on goals 3-3 in the quarter to make it 7-4 at the break.  Ashlyn Hoffman (Jr., Bend, Ore, Nursing) scored at the 12:42 mark with an assist from Peterson, who just three minutes later scored one herself. The back and forth of the quarter ended with Kenzington Winget (So., West Jordan, Utah, Sports Management) finding the back of the net with 3:06 left before halftime.

UHSP scored the first goal of the second half to trim the margin to two at 7-5, but William Penn responded with a five-goal run, headlined by Ferguson and Peterson each scoring twice.  Hoffman also found the netting, while Winget and Royal picked up an assist on each of the Ferguson's goals.  The navy and gold defense stiffened, allowing just one goal for a 12-6 Statesmen advantage.

The fourth quarter kept the same theme with WPU scoring six more times to run away with the victory.

Royal and Ferguson led the Statesmen with five goals each, while Peterson recorded four of her own to go along with two assists.

Hoffman had two goals on the day with one assist.  Jenna Donlan (Sr., Tampa, Fla., Business Management) added a goal and an assist, while Winget also got on the board with a goal of her own.

Madison Reed (Sr., Shakopee, Minn., Secondary Education) recorded six saves against 12 shots faced in the contest.

"Our ladies are taking everything that they learn between games and practices and putting it together on the field," said Interim Head Coach Josh Bell.  "Seeing players talking to each other about what they are going to improve going into the next game makes me very proud."

Next Up: William Penn remains in Oskaloosa Thursday, hosting Northwestern (Minn.) in non-conference play at 5 p.m.