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BOX SCORE

Women’s Lacrosse Dominates Sailfish 18-6

by Kyrin Mayfield, photo by Tavana Mercado

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Fresh off an upset of then-No. 13 Lynn over the weekend, the No. 13 Embry-Riddle women’s lacrosse team carried that momentum into a contest against Palm Beach Atlantic in which the Eagles (12-2, 3-1 Sunshine State Conference) dominated the Sailfish (3-9, 0-4) by a score of 18-6 at the Embry-Riddle Lacrosse Field. The six goals allowed were a season-low by the Blue and Gold defense while ERAU’s 18 scores were tied for the second most in a game this year. 

Embry-Riddle remained undefeated (4-0) all-time against Palm Beach Atlantic with the win. Each victory has come with a winning margin of at least six goals. 

On the night, the Eagles took 32 shots compared to just 14 for the Sailfish. Embry-Riddle applied consistent defensive pressure, forcing PBA to commit 23 turnovers while the Eagles gave away possession on only nine occasions. 

It took the Sailfish just 61 seconds into the game to strike. However, that would be Palm Beach Atlantic’s only lead of the game as Embry-Riddle took over from that point on. 

Samantha Reich took advantage of a woman-up opportunity with 11:11 remaining when she received a pass just past midfield on the left side. With wide open space in front of her, the sophomore sprinted ahead into the offensive area. Reich juked right to dodge a defender and put a shot past the goalie to even the game. 

Kenley Zeruto buried a free position shot into the bottom of the net six minutes later to give ERAU a 2-1 lead, a lead the squad would never relinquish from there on out. 

Sallie Squire struck two times in the last 13 seconds to send the Eagles into the second quarter up 4-1. After her first score, the sophomore controlled the draw and raced down the field past four defenders before eventually putting a shot through into the top right corner. 

ERAU didn’t take its foot off the gas to start the second quarter as the Eagles scored three times in the first 2:33. Embry-Riddle would go on to outscore Palm Beach Atlantic 8-0 in the period. Anna Maurer assisted on the first two, one to Alexa Zeruto and another to Squire. 

Maurer found Alexa Zeruto streaking up the middle of the arc uncovered, which set the sophomore up for an easy goal just 41 seconds in. Squire took a similar line to complete her hat trick 32 seconds later, beating her defender on the left side of the arc to receive an open pass and score.

Squire recorded a fourth goal with 12:27 left on a free position shot, giving her four scores over a 2:46 time span.

With 8:43 to go, Reich stood at the top of the arc with the ball. She accelerated past her defender and beat the goalie in a one-on-one opportunity. 

At the 7:27 mark, Kenna Mant circled around inside the arc and lost her defender. Realizing this, she ran toward the net with her stick held high hoping to get Madison Ellwood’s attention. Ellwood floated a pass to Mant who then beat the goaltender. 

Now up 9-1, Reich collected a fumbled pass in the offensive zone at the top of the fan, sprinted unopposed to the net, and beat the goalie with a top-shelf shot. 

With 3:47 left in the half, Maurer caught a pass to the left of the crease and charged in. On her way, she shot-faked two defenders out of the way and finished with a ball placed into the top left of the net. 

Alexa Zeruto added a goal with nine seconds remaining, and the Blue and Gold went into halftime with a 12-1 advantage.

PBA fought back in the third quarter by outscoring Embry-Riddle 4-2, though Paige Jones first sent a shot through the goalies’ legs just 39 seconds into the third to increase the Eagles’ lead to 13-1. 

After two Sailfish goals, Maurer made a dart of a pass from the left to the right of the arc to Kenley Zeruto, and she rifled a shot to the back of the net with 8:57 left. 

Another two scores by the opposition cut ERAU’s lead to 14-5 into the final period. 

After a brief pause in play, the Eagles got right back after it in the offensive end, scoring the first four goals of the fourth quarter thanks to goals from the Zeruto sisters, Squire and Jones.

Squire led in scoring with five goals giving the Portsmouth, New Hampshire, native 11 over the past two games and 52 on the year, now the fifth most in a season in program history. She also led the team in caused turnovers with three and accumulated four ground balls and four draw controls.

Alexa and Kenley Zeruto, as well as Reich, also notched hat tricks though Reich earned two assists while the Zerutos notched one. Maurer was credited with three assists. Additionally, Ellwood totaled a team-best six draw controls to go with an assist and three ground balls. 

Aubrey Fixen (12-2) received the win after stopping two shots and allowing six goals.

Embry-Riddle hits the road for a top-25 matchup with No. 5 Florida Southern on Saturday, April 15 at 1 p.m.

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PBA Drops SSC Battle on the Road Against No. 13 Eagles

by Brad Seitz, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic women’s lacrosse team returned to action today as they hit the road for a Sunshine State Conference tilt. The Sailfish faced their second-straight top-15 opponent as they fell to No. 13 ranked Embry-Riddle 18-6. PBA’s record drops to 3-9 on the season and 0-4 in SSC play.

The Sailfish were the first team to score out of the gates as it took just over a minute for their leading scorer Olivia Larges to find the back of the net and put PBA up 1-0. From that point on however, the half was controlled by the Eagles as they outscored the Sailfish 12-0 to close out the half. The ‘Fish were outshot 21-8 in the opening 30 minutes and won just 4-of-14 draw controls. Starting goalie Courtney Rausch was able to come up with seven saves in the first half but she was under siege throughout and surrendered 12 goals as the Sailfish were down 12-1 at the half.

PBA came out of the break with a strong third quarter as they outscored the Eagles 4-2 in the quarter. The Sailfish won all seven draw controls which gave them extra scoring opportunities which were pounced on by Mattie Davis and Larges scored back-to-back goals at the 13-minute and 11-minute marks. Katie Karlsen and Ella Howlin closed out the quarter by finding the back of the net as PBA was down 14-5 after three.

Julia Gibson scored her fifth goal of the season late in the fourth quarter as the Sailfish were too far behind to stage a comeback. Georgia Karns came in to play the second half and two saves while allowing six goals. PBA was outshot 32-14 on the night and split draw controls an even 13-13. The ‘Fish committed 23 turnovers and were able to force just nine from the Eagles. Larges led the way offensively as she scored two goals while Katie Caras picked up eight draw controls for the Sailfish.

Up next, the Sailfish return back home to host Saint Leo for their final home contest of the season this Saturday. The Lions are 9-4 on the season and 1-2 in conference play entering the night today.