ALMA, Mich. – The Alma College women's lacrosse team held their home opener at Bahlke Field on Friday, March 31st, as they faced off against Illinois Institute of Technology. The Scots had a strong offensive performance and came away victorious with a 20-4 win over the Scarlet Hawks.

Alma notched the first goal of the game early in the contest as Emma Keith scored with a man-up opportunity 95 seconds into the game on a free position shot. Kirsten Browne joined in on the action less than a minute later with another goal from a free position shot. Sam Peterson recorded her first of seven goals in the contest with 11 minutes remaining in the first on a pass from Olivia Bunce to put Alma up 3-0. Peterson scored another goal just over thirty seconds later before Rileigh McGeorge scored her first of the game to put Alma up 5-0 with under eight minutes remining in the quarter. The Scarlet Hawks scored their first of the game at the 6:30 mark in the first, but would be held scoreless the rest of the quarter. The Scots responded quickly and Sarah Bollinger found the back of the net to give Alma a five-goal lead again at the five-minute mark of the first. McGeorge tallied her second of the quarter on a free position shot with two minutes left. Alma added two more goals in the first with under a minute remaining from Browne and then Lauren Kenny to head into the second quarter with a 9-1 lead.

The second quarter was all Peterson for the Scots as she scored all but one of the goals in the quarter for Alma. Peterson's first came just 25 seconds into the quarter before IIT scored their second of the game and only goal of the quarter. Peterson added another just a minute later on an assist from Browne, giving Alma a 11-2 lead. McGeorge was the only other goal scorer for the Scots as she was able to net a goal man-down as Browne also assisted the tally. Peterson scored her final two goals of the quarter with under five minutes remaining in the half with one coming off a Browne pass and the other all on her own. Alma held a halftime lead of 14-2.

Both teams scored two goals in the third with both goals from Alma coming off of Browne's stick and the 13-minute mark and four-minute mark, with the earlier goal being assisted by Keith. The Scots were able to hold the Scarlet Hawks scoreless for the whole fourth quarter as they added four more goals to their commanding performance. McGeorge scored her fourth of the game five minutes into the final frame putting Alma up by 13 before freshman Mary Draher scored her first collegiate goal man-down with just under five minutes remaining. Peterson tallied a one more goal on an assist from Jamie Sherman before Bollinger closed out the scoring for the game with just under two minutes remaining. 

The Scots move to 7-0 for the second-straight season and 1-0 at home for the 2023 campaign. Peterson recorded nine points in the game which was a game-high, while Browne finished the game with seven points on four goals and three assists. McGeorge, Bunce and Ava Frederickson all tied with three groundballs for the game as Browne and Emily Flynn both tied with two caused turnovers during the contest. McGeorge collected eight draw controls to lead Alma and Bollinger added another three. In net, Cassidy Smith got the win with six saves in just over 50 minutes between the pipes.

Alma will now open MIAA conference play next week as they play host to the Knights from Calvin University on Wednesday, April 5th. Start time for the contest is set for 7:00 PM at Bahlke Field.

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Story Credit: Eli Pinter, Sports Information Intern