2-1 on the Road

The women's lacrosse team started conference play with a three-game road trip last week.  They started the trip with a dominating performance at Oklahoma Baptist University and a 19-7 win. A last-minute goal at Rockhurst University gave them the win, 15-14.  #3 Lindenwood defeated Westminster 21-7. 
 
Katie Adams had an impressive weekend recording 16 points.  She had two assists and five goals against Oklahoma Baptist, put five in against Rockhurst and scored four first half goals against Lindenwood.  She caused 11 turnovers, won eight draw controls and gathered 12 ground balls.
 
Madison Ingman had a pair of assists in all three games and scored five goals against Oklahoma Baptist and six goals against Rockhurst for 17 points. 
 
Taylor Hekking faced 78 shots and made 37 saves.  She recorded a 12.58 goal against average and a 47.4 save percentage over the weekend.
 
The Griffins finished the week 2-1 in the RMAC and 3-3 overall.
 
Conference Home Opener

Westminster hosts Colorado State Pueblo, Friday at 4 p.m., in a conference home opener.  The game will be broadcast on the RMAC Network, with play-by-play from David Winkworth, and available online through live stats.  Links can be found on the women's lacrosse schedule webpage.
 
Tickets can be purchased online in advance of the game, or at the gate the day off the game.
 
Opponent Info: Colorado State Pueblo (Thunderwolves) 0-3 RMAC, 1-4

CSU-Pueblo are on a four-game losing streak since its home opener win against Fort Lewis.  They have suffered defeat to UVA-Wise (12-16), Rockhurst (10-11), Lindenwood (4-17) and Regis (11-22).

• CSU-Pueblo averages 10.20 goals per game and allows 15.40 goals per game
• Shots on goal percentage .742, averaging 26.4 shots per game.
• Westminster is 1-2 against the Thunderwolves.
• Key Players:
  • Taylor Christensen and Leah Neumann lead the Thunderwolves with 12 points.  Christensen has nine goals and three assists and Neumann has 10 goals and two assists.
  • Christensen also leads in groundballs, 20, caused turnovers, 10 and is second to Neumann on draw controls with 18.
  • Neumann leads the team winning 19 draw controls.

About the Griffins

The Griffins finished 2017 with a 7-6 overall record and a 5-4 conference.  Finishing in fifth place, Westminster made it into the conference championships but suffered defeat to Fort Lewis, 9-12, in the first game.  The Griffins were picked to finish fourth in the preseason coaches' poll. 

Westminster returns 16 players from last season's squad.  "The experience and leadership from these players is helping the freshmen integrate and will help us keep the momentum from last season," head coach Nikonia Harding said.
 
Scoring Duo

Adams and Ingman are the team's leading scorers.  Ingman leads the RMAC in shots per game (7.20) and is second for goals (4.00) and points per game (5.20).  She leads the team with 34 points from 26 goals and eight assists.

Adams is second on the team with 27 points from 23 goals and four assists.  In the conference she is third in goals per game, 4.00, fifth in points per game, 4.40, and ninth in shots per game, 5.80.

Support in the Attack

Katie Hendershott and Brenlee Fordham have each scored in all but one game.  Hendershott has scored seven goals and assisted seven goals.  Fordham has eight goals and four assists.

Picking up Ground Balls and Causing Turnovers

Daisy Mele and Adams are tied first in the conference with 23 ground balls each.  Adams is third in caused turnovers, 2.80 per game, and Mele is eight, 2.20 per game.

Draw Control Winners

Four Griffins have recorded double-digit draw controls.  Audree Erekson leads the group with 34 wins and is fourth in the conference, averaging 5.20 wins per game.  Ambert Allison has won 23, Adams has 18 and Daisy Mele has recorded 12 draw control wins.

In the Cage

Westminster has the second best save percentage, .487, in the conference behind Lindenwood.  Hekking has started four of Westminster's five games.  She has faced 118 shots and made 59 saves for a .500 save percentage.  Hekking has the second most saves per game, 11.00, and second highest save percentage, .494, in the conference.

Looking Ahead

Next week Westminster hosts Regis, on Thursday, and University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, on Saturday.  Thursday's game is scheduled for 4 p.m. and Saturday's game is scheduled for 11 a.m. 

Tickets for both games are available for purchase online.  Both games will be broadcast on the RMAC Network and be available online via live stats.  Links to the video feed and live stats can be found on the women's lacrosse schedule webpage.