PORTLAND, Ore. – Lewis & Clark College women's lacrosse secured its second consecutive Northwest Conference victory on Sunday afternoon and earned its third win in less than a year over the University of Puget Sound.
 
THE BASICS
 
Lewis & Clark 15, Puget Sound 3
(Lewis & Clark 9-3, 2-1 NWC)
(Puget Sound 4-8, 1-3 NWC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

Defenders Lauren Elliott and Ava Mullen anchored the Pioneers' backfield, combining for 10 of the team's 19 ground balls and causing nine of 16 turnovers. Elliott (six ground balls, five caused turnovers), a sophomore who moved from playing midfield, and Mullen (four ground balls, four caused turnovers), a first-year player, each posted career highs in both categories.

Sophomore Sage Swegle once again led the offense, scoring five goals to bring her season total to 45. She has scored at least five goals in three consecutive games and recorded a hat trick in four straight contests.

First-year Mack Searle and sophomores Evelyn Burnett and Aviana Gonzales each added hat tricks, with Searle chipping in an assist. Sophomore Finley Allen rounded out the scoring with one goal and one assist.

In goal, first-year Kaitlin McRae and sophomore Zoey Hamel-Hyland combined to hold Puget Sound to its lowest goal total in series history. McRae made three saves and picked up three ground balls in the first half. Hamel-Hyland tallied two saves and one ground ball after halftime.

The Pioneers seized control early, building a 4-0 lead in the opening quarter. Gonzales sparked the offense with back-to-back unassisted goals, followed by a pair from Swegle — one assisted by Allen and another on a free-position shot with just 17 seconds remaining.

Lewis & Clark extended its lead in the second quarter with three more goals. Swegle and Searle each converted free-position shots, and Swegle added her third of the day to make it 7-0. After Puget Sound's Cat Schilli broke the shutout at 6:38, Burnett answered with an unassisted goal to send the Pioneers into halftime with an 8-1 lead.

The third quarter was the Pios' most dominant, as they outscored the Loggers 6-1. Searle opened the scoring just 15 seconds in, and Allen capitalized on a man-up opportunity with a free-position goal. Searle completed her hat trick moments later to make it 11-1.

After Michaela Chen scored for the Loggers, Gonzales netted her third goal, and Burnett followed with two more—including a free-position goal with under two minutes left.

Swegle capped the scoring for Lewis & Clark with a fourth-quarter goal at 9:05. Maggie Ott added a late goal for Puget Sound at 2:12.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Swegle has scored 16 goals through the first three NWC games and ended Sunday's contest with 98 career points.
• Lewis & Clark won the draw control battle 13-9, with six apiece from Swegle and Searle.
• The Pioneers converted on 17 of 18 clear attempts (94.4%).
• Lewis & Clark went 5-for-5 on free-position shots, with conversions from Swegle (2), Allen, Burnett and Searle.

WHO'S NEXT
 
Lewis & Clark returns to action Wednesday night for its final home game of the season, hosting Linfield in the first-ever Northwest Conference matchup. The teams have split the previous two meetings in the series. The opening draw is set for 7 p.m. at Griswold Stadium.