Huge First-Half Leads Athenas Past Poets

WHITTIER, Calif. – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's lacrosse team won their third-straight SCIAC game with a 20-3 drumming of the Whittier Poets on Saturday morning. The Athenas held the Poets scoreless in the first-half and scored 13 goals to take a convincing 13-0 lead into the break. During the opening period, CMS held a 32-1 advantage in shots taken. CMS went on to score the first two goals of the second-half before cruising to a 20-3 victory.

The Athenas were paced on the afternoon by three-goal efforts from Allie Hill (CMC), Julia Mueller (SC), and Corie Hack (CMC). In total, 11 different Athenas registered goals in the convincing conference victory.

CMS started the game quickly, scoring three goals in the first two minutes. Corie Hack notched an unassisted goal just 1:06 into the game and goals by Allie Hill and Emily Cohen (CMC) followed to give the Athenas an early 3-0 lead. Sally Abel (CMC) beak the keeper exactly a minute after Cohen for a 4-0 CMS lead.

After a brief six-minute scoreless stretch, Allie Hill got back on the board with a shorthanded goal, giving CMS a 5-0 lead. The Athenas added five more goals over the next nine minutes to double their lead. During the stretch, Evan Murphy (CMC) and Hack scored two goals apiece and Choen added her second to put CMS up 10-0.

Goals from Blaire Southmayd (CMC), Mia Prine (CMC), and Allie Hill in the final seven minutes of the half put the Athenas up 13-0 at the break.

The Athenas continued their strong play in the second-half. CMS scored the first two goals of the half, off shots from Sally Abel and Sascha Reynolds (HMC) to take a 15-0 lead. Whittier then countered with two of the next three goals to make it a 16-2 game.

CMS got those goals back with a quick 3-0 run that featured tally from Katie Hill (CMC) and two from Julia Mueller.

Neely O'Grady scored for Whittier with 4:58 remaining before Emma Johnson closed out the scoring with a goal for CMS in the final seconds. The Athenas earned the 20-3 victory and improved to 3-0 in the SCIAC this season.

Not only were the Athenas dominate on the scoreboard, but CMS controlled nearly every aspect of the game. The Athenas were 7-7 on clear attempts and scored on six of their 10 free position shots. CMS outshot the Poets 52-5 and forcing Whittier into 29 turnovers on the day.

The Athenas will next be in action on Wednesday when they host Rhodes College at 7:00 p.m. in their home opener.