The women's lacrosse team picked up two wins this past week, defeating division rivals Potsdam and Fredonia.
On Saturday, April 14, the women hosted the Potsdam Bears. Thirteen first-half goals set the tone for the Knights as they won convincingly, 19-5. Starting off with two quick goals in the first minute, the team set the tone early. The team used their speed to get more ground balls, winning that battle 23-15. This allowed them to keep the pressure on, as well as lead a rush as they left their defensive zone. Senior midfielder Maggie Benham scored six goals, and also picked up an assist. Sophomore midfielder Maggie Morris assisted on the team's first two goals, and got another helper later in the game. She also scored two goals.
The Knights scored the first nine goals of the game, and the Bears were unable to get on the scoreboard until more than halfway through the first half. The constant offensive pressure by the Knights wore down the opponent, leaving them in a hole that was tough to get out of. Sophomore attacker Laura Kitts notched four goals and an assist, giving her five points for the game. A total of nine Geneseo players scored a goal, providing a balanced attack effort that was impossible to stop. This win improved the women to 5-2 overall, 2-1 in the conference.
The team picked up another outstanding victory on Tuesday, April 17, defeating Fredonia 17-9. The game was a lot closer in the first half, with the score standing 7-5 in Geneseo's favor after the first 30 minutes. The Knights finished the first half with a flurry, scoring three goals in the final minute. Senior attacker Emily Ward scored two of those goals, including one with .01 left on the clock. Ward totaled five goals for the entire game, giving her 19 for the season. Benham continued her scoring tear, picking up three goals and three assists for a total of six points. She currently leads the team with 37 points, scoring 26 goals and 11 assists in eight games. Her goal and assist totals are both tops on the team.
Junior midfielder Colleen Byrne was among three Knights who scored two goals, with Morris and sophomore attacker Bridget Riley being the others. Junior midfielder Shauna Leonard picked up three points, with a goal and two assists. The team has picked up three convincing division victories this season, beating Oswego, Potsdam and Fredonia by the total of 55-22. The Knights' only loss came in a close game to Brockport. This ability to light up the scoreboard takes pressure off the defense and their fast-paced play keeps them in any game. The team now sits at 6-2 overall and 3-1 in the conference, with seven games left to go.