Schooler Has Career-Best Night to Hand Statesmen First Loss of Season
via St. Thomas press release/website, by Michelle Murch
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (Match 14, 2023) – AutoNation Field has been home to history in its short presence. Tuesday night a new milestone was added with the St. Thomas University (STU) Women’s Lacrosse (2-6) picking up their first win in front of the home crowd. It was an electric night with much love and support in the stands against William Penn (5-1). St. Thomas was able to finish strong and secure the win 22-15.
The night did not start as anticipated as the Statesmen got out to a 5-0 start in the first seven minutes of the contest. Noelle Heggblod would win a draw control to shift the energy and get STU going. St. Thomas scored five unanswered goals to end the first period tied at five-all. Emily Dawson would be a big part of that picking up two saves in the final three seconds and on a straight ahead free position attempt.
Heggblod got the second period started and gave STU their first lead with a free position goal in the opening 42 seconds. William Penn would tie and regain the lead at 7-6 within the minute. In a back and forth battle, the Bobcats would use the final six and a half minutes to take full control for good. Jorja Schooler and Heggblod would turn in into another gear and give the Bobcats a 12-9 lead into the half.
William Penn would be able to bring the game within one goal with 7:13 on the clock in the third. Schooler would give the Bobcats some cushion with two goals to close out the quarter at 15-12.
With just 15 minutes to go to defend their unblemished season, Kaitlyn Chmelir would put a damper in those plans with a goal 34-seconds in. E’Mya Miller would have the most dominant goal of the night winning the following draw control and driving straight to the goal for the unassisted score pushing past three different defenders.
St. Thomas would outscored William Penn 7-3 in the final frame to hand the Statesmen their first loss on the season.
Jorja Schooler would be named the player of the match scoring a career-best and program game-best seven goals in the night. This ties the most goals scored in a game for the Bobcats as well.
St. Thomas will begin Sun Conference play with a trip over to Ave Maria, Fla to take in the Gyrenes on Saturday, March 18 at 12 p.m.
