HICKORY, N.C. - The Lynn University women's lacrosse team improved to 3-1 on the season with a commanding 15–5 victory over Lenoir-Rhyne on Friday afternoon, matching its season high for goals in a single game. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

- Lynn set the tone early as Elizabeth Clagett and Angelia Huggins tested the Bears' defense with quality shots on goal in the opening minutes

- Huggins capitalized on a free-position, man-up opportunity at the 12:03 mark to give the Fighting Knights a 1-0 advantage

- Lenoir-Rhyne responded at 10:35 to even the score, 1-1

- Rebecca Clark wasted little time reclaiming the lead, scoring an unassisted goal just over a minute later

- The Blue and White maintained offensive pressure throughout the opening quarter, capped by Olivia Fox finishing a Clagett assist to send Lynn into the second period ahead 3-1

- Both teams generated early opportunities in the second frame, but a momentum-shifting double save by Ava Ceglia ignited a Lynn clear that led to a Clagett goal at 4:51, extending the lead to 4-1

- Clagett followed by winning the ensuing draw control and converting off a Huggins feed to make it 5-1

- The Bears answered with a man-up goal to cut the deficit to 5-2

- Junior attacker Sara Williams pushed the lead back to five, finishing a Huggins assist with under three minutes remaining in the half, 6-1

- Clagett closed the scoring before the break with another solo effort, giving Lynn a 7-2 halftime advantage

- The Fighting Knights seized full control in the third quarter, scoring five consecutive goals

- Clark opened the second-half scoring just one minute in, 8-2

- Freshman Madison Smith followed two minutes later off a Clagett assist to make it 9-2

- After a green card issued to Lenoir-Rhyne, Clark capitalized on the man-up opportunity with a goal assisted by Fox at 11:30, pushing the margin to 10-2

- Huggins added another at 8:43 to extend the lead to 11-2

- Strong defensive play from Clark and Smith forced turnovers and secured groundballs, earning Lynn a free-position attempt that freshman Zoe Stewart converted for her first collegiate goal and a 12-2 cushion
- Clagett capped the third-quarter surge with 21 seconds remaining, sending Lynn into the final period with a commanding 13-3 lead
- Meredith Ravizza and Ella Timperio added fourth-quarter goals to finalize the 15-5 victory

FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS:
- Clagett paced the offense with six points (four goals, two assists), adding one groundball and four draw controls

- Huggins contributed four points (two goals, two assists)

- Clark anchored the defensive effort with five groundballs and three caused turnovers while recording a hat trick

- Nine different Fighting Knights found the back of the net. Ravizza, Williams, Stewart, and Timperio each scored their first goals of the season

- Lynn edged Lenoir-Rhyne in groundballs, 14-10, and won the draw control battle, 13-10
- Huggins ranks third in the Sunshine State Conference and 20th nationally in total assists
- Clagett sits 10th in the SSC in goals per game (3.00)

- Clark leads the SSC with 16 goals this season and ranks second in goals per game (4.00). She also tops the conference in caused turnovers per game (3.25) and total groundballs (15)

UP NEXT:
Lynn returns to action on March 5 at 1 p.m. in Jacksonville, Fla., where the Fighting Knights will face Dominican (N.Y.)