FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (March 15, 2023) – Fifth-year Morgan Westerby scored a career-high six goals as the Stevens Institute of Technology women's lacrosse team defeated the University of Mary Washington 12-8 Wednesday afternoon in a non-conference matchup at Battleground Turf.

The win marks the team's seventh straight win to open the season. The Ducks are one win short of matching last year's season-opening eight-game winning streak.

Katie Blair led the way for Mary Washington (5-3), scoring two goals and an assist. Kayla Sarazin, Maya Koebke and Erin Steinberg each added two points for the Eagles. Wednesday's contest is believed to be the first-ever meeting between the teams.

Graduate student Camryn Rogers, who was named the USA Lacrosse Magazine DIII Player of the Week, recorded yet another hat trick as she scored three times. Junior Emily Leiby added two goals for Stevens. Two Ducks each  scored one point, as sophomore Alison Lax tallied a goal while senior Julieann Murphy provided an assist.

Graduate student Lauren Cunniff drew the start in the cage and matched her career high with 14 saves. She earned her 29th career win and moved to 7-0 on the season. Cailyn Tripp made 13 saves in defeat for Mary Washington. 

Stevens jumped out to an early 2-0 lead behind goals from Westerby within the first four minutes of the first quarter. Both goals came from free-position attempts. Still on the attack, Rogers hit the post with 9:45 remaining. Leiby was able to score 35 seconds later on an assist from Murphy to put the Ducks up 3-0 for the second straight game. Rogers finally got her first goal of the game with 3:34 left in the quarter. Mary Washington was able to tack on one goal before time expired as Stevens maintained a 4-1 lead heading into the second frame.

Neither team was able to find the back of the net for the first eight minutes of the second quarter until Rogers scored her second of the game to put Stevens up four. The one goal was all the Ducks were able to muster in the quarter, making it their lowest scoring quarter on the season. The Eagles scored twice before the break to make the halftime score 5-3 in favor of the visitors.

Mary Washington continued their momentum into the third quarter as they scored the first two to tie the game at five. Stevens did not score any goals in the first 11 minutes, but they were able to rattle off four goals across the final 3:46 to restore their four-goal lead. Lax, Rogers, Westerby, and Leiby all scored unassisted goals on that run. Leiby's goal came from a free-position attempt.

The Eagles scored less than a minute into the fourth to trim the deficit to three. Senior Maddie Schmidt had an attempt saved with 10:22 to go, but Westerby was able to score just 24 seconds later to put the Ducks back up four. The teams again traded goals as Mary Washington tallied their seventh with 8:45 to go. That prompted another Westerby goal, her fifth of the game, from the eight-meter line. Neither team scored for the next four minutes. Westerby delivered a dagger and her sixth goal of the game with 3:46 left to give Stevens their largest lead of the game at five. Mary Washington was able to score another goal in the quarter, but it wouldn't be enough as the Ducks won yet again.

Stevens scored on four of their five free-position shots. Westerby scored three from the eight-meter line as she converted two in the first and one in the fourth. Leiby converted in the third. The Ducks held Mary Washington to just 2 of 7.

Rogers snagged a game-high seven draw controls to help the Ducks gain a 15-8 advantage. First-year Stefanie Sellitto had four, while Leiby added two. Fifth-year Josie Cook joined Murphy in each grabbing one to round out the Ducks' efforts. Sarazin had four draw controls to pace Mary Washington.

The Ducks corralled a total of 18 ground balls in the contest. Josie Cook and Sellitto led the way with three. Koebke and Sarazin each had three for the Eagles.

Stevens caused seven of Mary Washington's 12 turnovers. Sellitto led all Ducks with two. Cook and first-years Bella Mangano, Lauren Sullivan, Lindsay Esposito, and Maggie Zarish-Yasunas each had one. The Eagles caused nine of the 11 Duck turnovers, with Maria Schneider leading the way with three.

The Ducks went a perfect 15 for 15 on clears. The Eagles were nearly perfect as well, going 12 for 13.

Up Next: Women's Lacrosse is back in action on Wednesday, March 22 as the Ducks head to York, Pennsylvania to take on No. 10 York College of Pennsylvania. The game is set for 6 p.m. The Ducks won last year's matchup between the teams by a score of 8-7. Links for live stats and video will be posted to StevensDucks.com once available.

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