Springfield, Mass. - February 28, 2024 - Behind five goals from first-year Izzy Lalancette (Feeding Hills, Mass.), the Springfield College women's lacrosse team defeated Skidmore College, 16-12, on Wednesday evening on Stagg Field.

Springfield improved to 2-0 on the young season, while Skidmore dipped to 0-2.

Lalancette registered a career-best five goals on six shots to go along with a ground ball, a caused turnover and a draw control. Sophomore Lily Johnson (Oceanside, N.Y.) added her second hat trick in as many games in addition to two ground balls and a trio of caused turnovers, while junior Samantha Andresen (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.) and sophomore Sarah Newton (Colchester, Conn.) both notched two goals apiece. Senior Maddie Roy (Wilbraham, Mass.) tallied a game-high three ground balls and six draw controls. Skidmore was paced by Jillian Lockwood with five goals for the visitors.

Junior Abby Taylor (Cumberland Foreside, Maine) got Springfield on the board first just 2:11 into the contest as she potted a free position shot into the cage before Lalancette posted back-to-back goals for a 3-2 edge for the Pride. Johnson scored on the man-advantage late in the opening quarter, but the score remained tied at 4-4 through one.

The Pride opened the second with a pair of markers for a 6-4 edge thanks to strikes by Newton and Johnson. Skidmore got one back on the man-advantage midway through the stanza, but Lalancette and Roy answered just minutes later to push Springfield's edge up to three at 8-5 with three minutes left before the break. Skidmore scored twice in less than a minute as the score stood at 8-7 in favor of the Pride at halftime.

Springfield continued its offensive pressure early in the third when Lalancette scored the first tally of the half on the man-advantage before finishing a pass from Roy for a 10-7 lead. Senior Karen Joy (South Windsor, Conn.) added an unassisted strike with 7:00 to play in the third to up the Pride's lead to four. After Skidmore struck for two goals of its own, Springfield closed the third with a man-advantage goal from Johnson off a feed from Roy and an unassisted tally from Andresen for a 13-9 differential after three.

Springfield maintained its advantage in the fourth and went on to win the game by a 16-12 final. Senior Hannah Hibbert (Center Harbor, N.H.) gave the Pride its largest lead of the contest at five goals, 15-10, with her first tally of the season with 6:10 to play in regulation.

As a team, Springfield held a 32-26 edge in shots, a 16-7 differential in ground balls and went 15-for-17 on clearing attempts in addition to 3-for-6 on free position shots. In goal, senior Haley Moody (Wells, Maine) posted a season-best nine saves in the victory for the Pride.

Springfield will host Roger Williams University on Saturday, March 2 at 12:00 pm on Stagg Field.

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