ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Marian lacrosse team won their fourth straight game and second WHAC game on Wednesday night, as they defeated Concordia (Mich.) 17-5. Marian led 11-3 at halftime and started the running clock a minute into the third quarter as they improved 7-2 overall and 2-0 in the WHAC.
Ruby Mason scored the first goal of the game as her teammate Ella Grace Giedd connected in front of the cage to take the lead a minute into play. Back-to-back goals from Giedd and Katelynn Gray provided the 3-0 lead with 7:57 to go in quarter one. Giedd wasted no time as she netted one less than a minute later before Madison Ash found Ashlynn Gray for the Knights' fifth goal of the game. Ash would finish Marian's first quarter scoring with her first goal of the night, helping the Knights claim a 6-0 lead.
Marian continued to pack onto their lead with Mason starting the scoring yet again on the assist from Grace Martin. Concordia answered with two goals in a two minute span to cut their deficit to 7-2. Mason scored consecutive goals both on the feed from Giedd to complete the hat trick plus one, while Lizzie Piercy and Ashlynn Gray notched back-to-back goals. The Knights run would end with 3:16 remaining in the first half as Nicole Bordo scored for the Cardinals before the half's end to make it an eight-goal game at the break.
The Knights hit the running clock a minute into the third quarter with Madeline Dumke connecting with Martin, while Ashlynn Gray converted on a free position goal. Dumke scored her first goal of the game with 10:06 to play in the third quarter before a pair of snipes from Katelynn Gray and Taleah Nool sent Marian ahead 16-3 going into the final quarter.
Concordia never stopped fighting, as the Cardinals netted two goals in the opening 3:11 of the fourth quarter. Marian would increase their lead to a 12-goal advantage after Katelynn Gray responded for the hat trick. Leading 17-5 with 10:01 remaining, neither team could score as the Knights fired off three shots to the Cardinals' two, finishing off Marian's 17-5 victory.
Marian forced 43 turnovers in the win, causing 27 of them. Mason led the Knights with four goals, while Katelynn Gray and Ashlynn Gray recorded the hat trick. Giedd scored twice and led the team with five assists. Martin and Dumke both recorded a team-high five caused turnovers, and Dumke and Katelynn Gray had a team-best five ground balls.
Marian will wrap up a four-game road slate on Saturday at Siena Heights at 12 p.m.
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