MOUNT OLIVE – After four players recorded hat tricks on Sunday afternoon, the No. 24 ranked University of Mount Olive women’s lacrosse team rolled past UVA Wise by a 16-7 margin in non-conference play at Ray McDonald Sr. Sports Complex.
With the win, the Trojans improved to 4-2 overall behind a 2-2 mark on their home field. Meanwhile, UVA Wise fell to 3-5 this season with a 2-1 record against Conference Carolinas opponents.
Senior Logan Hibbard delivered a 10-point performance behind six goals and four assists while also contributing four ground balls, three caused turnovers, and eight draw controls.
Junior Teagan Dunnett finished with four points after tallying three goals and one assist, while junior Lena DeFilippo and freshman Caroline Clark each produced a hat trick.
In the first quarter, Hibbard scored the opening goal on a free-position shot at the 12:47 mark before Clark netted her first goal of the contest just minutes later to build a 2-0 edge.
The Cavaliers answered back with a free-position man-up goal to cut into the deficit, but the Trojans countered with three straight goals. Hibbard registered back-to-back goals in 48 seconds to complete her hat trick before Clark recorded her second goal of the game, 5-1.
UVA Wise closed the gap to 5-2 at the 1:59 mark of the quarter before Dunnett scored with an assist recorded by Hibbard, 6-2. The second quarter featured nine combined goals with the Cavaliers producing the first goal at the 12:26 mark to trim the deficit to 6-3.
DeFilippo responded with consecutive goals off assists from junior Rileigh White to stretch the lead to 8-3. UVA Wise responded with a man-up goal with seven-plus minutes left, but Mount Olive countered with three unanswered goals.
Clark completed her hat trick while Hibbard and junior Jenna Mish each found the back of the cage, 11-4. The Cavaliers closed the second quarter with a pair of goals to trail by an 11-6 margin at halftime.
The Trojan defense shut down the UVA Wise offense in the third quarter while netting two additional goals. Hibbard scored her fifth goal of the game before DeFilippo completed her hat trick in the closing minutes of the third, 13-6.
Dunnett netted the first goal of the fourth at the 10:36 mark to extend the lead to 14-6 before the Cavaliers scored a man-up goal to close the gap to 14-7. Hibbard and Dunnett would find the back of the cage in the final minutes to seal the 16-7 win.
Senior Jane Hobbs earned the win and collected four saves while playing the final 33-plus minutes of the contest. White and freshman Simone McCraw tied for the team lead with five ground balls, while Hibbard and redshirt senior Maia Hodgins registered three caused turnovers.
The Trojans return to Ray McDonald Sr. Sports Complex on Wednesday, when they host Slippery Rock at 4 p.m.
