WOMEN’S LACROSSE CAN’T COME BACK AGAINST LEOPARDS IN SEASON OPENER

BOSTON, MA– On Saturday, February 22^nd the Anna Maria College women's lacrosse team traveled to Boston, MA to take on the Leopards of Wentworth Institution of Technology for their first game of the season. The AMCATS lost the game 7-5.

The Leopards would open the scoring early against the AMCAST in the first scoring three goals. It would eb the only goals scored in the first quarter, two of the three goals the Leopards scored on the AMCATS would be with an extra attacker. The AMCATS would find some opportunities in the first but would end the first down to the Leopards 3 to 0. 

The Leopards would come out quick against the AMCAST in the second quarter to add to their lead scoring their 4^th goal of the game. It would the AMCATS to not give up and continue to pressure the Leopards on the offensive side of the ball getting their first goal of the game off a pass from Riley Michaud to Ivy Ballou to strike it home for the AMCATS first goal of the game. It would be the Leopards to continue the pressure offensively against the AMCATS but it would be the goalie for the AMCATS Kelsey Kowal to keep the Leopards off the board for the rest of the second quarter. The AMCATS would look to use their offensive momentum to add to their one goal, but the second quarter would end with both teams scoring one goal each. The AMAST would head to halftime down to the Leopards 4 to 1 . 

As the second half would start the AMCATS would bring strong offense and strike first with one quick goal less than a minute into the third quarter, putting them only two goals behind the Leopards. The Leopards would quickly strike back against the AMCATS adding two more goals to increase their lead on the AMCATS with a score of 6 to 2. The AMCATS would refuse to give up and continue to pressure the Leopards in the third. The AMCATS would take control for the rest of the third quarter, scoring their third goal of the game off a free position shot from Riley Michaud. It would be the AMCATS down by three, but it would be the AMCATS to strike again with a pass from Raegan Hachey to Christine Ijawet for an AMCATS goal at the five-minute mark in the third. That would pull the AMCATS within two goals against the Leopards with a score of 6 to 4 in favor of the Leopards. 

The fourth quarter would be mostly defense for both teams, as one goal was scored for the Leopards to add to their lead with their 7^th goal of the game, and one for the AMCATS. The AMCATS fourth quarter goal would be off a pass from Riley Michaud to Christine Ijawet to put it home for the AMCATS 5^th goal of the game.  Despite the strong comeback effort and offensive momentum from the AMCATS it would fall short, as the Leopards would defeat the AMCATS 7 to 5. 

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Kelsey Kowal would start the game and season for the AMCATS in net stop 5 of 9 shots.
• Grace Holden would relieve Kowal for her first career game in net for the AMCATS stopping 2 of 5 shots in the second half. 
• Riley Michaud and Christine Ijawet would both open up the season, each having two goals against the Leopards. 
• Ivy Ballou would score once for the AMCATS against the Leopards. 
• The AMCATS would outshoot the Leopards 23-21. 
• The AMCATS would dominate the circle with 10 draw controls and limiting the Leopards to 6. 

Up Next: 

Anna Maria women's lacrosse is back in action on Monday March 3^rd for their first home game of the season against non-conference opponent the Terries of Thomas College. Opening Draw is set for 4:30pm.