LIVONIA, Mich. – The Marian lacrosse team kicked off WHAC play with a victory after defeating Madonna 18-2. The dominating win by the Knights makes them 1-0 to start conference play and 6-2 overall on the season.
Goals came early and often for the Knights in the opening quarter. After falling behind 1-0 in the first three minutes, Grace Martin put Marian on the board at the 8:42 mark to start the scoring before Ella Grace Giedd gave the Knights their second goal 36 seconds later to take the 2-1 lead. Both teams fired off a shot attempt before moments later when Madeline Dumke connected with Katelynn Gray for the goal, starting a bit of a scoring fury for Marian as Giedd and Gray each notched their second goals.
The scoring did not slow down for the Knights as they packed on three more goals in the final two and half minutes. Ashlynn Gray got in on the action after the find from Giedd, while Giedd got the hat trick with 2:01 to play in the first quarter. With 50 seconds left, Madison Ash executed on the free position goal to help her team take the 8-1 lead after quarter one.
Marian wasted no time in the opening 34 second of the second quarter with two quick goals coming from Giedd and Emily Blackburn. The Crusaders finally responded at the 12:39 mark to give them their second goal of the game. A turnover by Madonna and the ground ball pickup from Giedd ended with Ash scoring her second goal of the game to extend their lead to 11-2. The final eight minutes of play in the first half went scoreless for both sides as Marian fired off four shots to Madonna's two.
Goals were harder to come by in the third quarter as Madonna held Marian scoreless until 5:15 was remaining in the quarter when A. Gray picked up a free position goal before notching her hat trick goal a few minutes later to give the Knights the 13-2 lead. At the 1:23 mark Ash executed on another free position shot to give Marian the 14-2 lead going into the final quarter of play.
The Knights continued to tack onto their lead with Ambrosia Johnson scoring her first goal of the game with 11:51 left to play, while Tori Farkas hit back netting on the assist from Martin. Madonna had no answer for Marian's offense as A. Gray and Giedd each scored one more before the final horn sounded, and the Knights would go on to win 18-2.
Giedd led the team with five goals and three assists. A. Gray added four goals, while Ash had three, and Martin notched two. K. Gray, Johnson, Blackburn, and Farkas all posted one goal. Six different Knights caused a turnover in the game, and K. Gray led Marian with eight ground ball. Katherine Hirsch earned the win in goal, allowing two scores while making seven saves.
Marian will continue their road slate at Concordia (Mich.) on Wednesday at 3 p.m.
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