MOUNT OLIVE — Behind five different players recording a hat trick, the University of Mount Olive women’s lacrosse team rolled past Lenoir-Rhyne by a 21-8 margin in non-conference action at Ray McDonald Sr. Sports Complex on Saturday.
With the win, the Trojans hold a four-game winning streak and improve to 7-2 overall behind a 4-2 mark on their home turf.
Mount Olive has won the last three meetings in the series, including the previous two games by double-digit goals. Meanwhile, the Bears fall to 2-8 this season with a 0-3 record on the road.
Senior Logan Hibbard delivered an eight-point performance (four goals, four assists) while adding five draw controls, one caused turnover, and four ground balls.
Junior Rileigh White finished with three goals and three assists, while sophomore Maddy Fratus netted four goals against LR.
Juniors Lena DeFilippo and Teagan Dunnett each recorded a hat trick while fifth-year Bria Hamilton totaled two goals, two assists, and two ground balls.
The Trojans scored in the opening minutes of the contest after White scored off an assist by Hamilton to take a 1-0 advantage before Fratus netted a man-up opportunity to extend the lead to 2-0.
The Bears countered at the 10:50 mark to trim the deficit to 2-1 before UMO countered with five unanswered goals, including a first-quarter hat trick by Hibbard to hold a 7-1 edge.
Lenoir-Rhyne scored in the final two-plus minutes before Hamilton joined the scoring sheet at the 1:51 mark to regain the six-goal lead, 8-2. In the second quarter, the Bears closed the gap to 9-4 with 11:32 remaining, but UMO responded with goals by Dunnett and sophomore Alexa Fitzgerald.
Lenoir-Rhyne netted two goals in the final minutes before Hibbard scored with 36 seconds left to take a 12-6 lead in the halftime.
The Bears scored in the opening minute of the third quarter before DeFilippo and White scored back-to-back goals in just 47 seconds to stretch the lead to 14-7.
Following a Lenoir-Rhyne goal with 9:45 left, the Trojans tallied four goals in the final four minutes of the third, as DeFilippo and Dunnett completed their hat tricks.
Mount Olive held the Bears scoreless in the fourth while forcing eight turnovers. On the offensive side, UMO registered three insurance goals to cruise to a 21-8 victory.
Junior Anna James earned the start and played the opening 23-plus minutes, while senior Jane Hobbs collected three saves in 36 minutes of action on Saturday.
Sophomores Giavahna Gasdia and Madison Dow finished with three caused turnovers and three ground balls. Freshman Kayanna Bowden totaled five draw controls, two caused turnovers, one goal, and one ground ball.
The Trojans return to non-conference play on Tuesday when they face Lander on the road at 3 p.m.
