St. Davids, Pa. (April 13, 2022) - Alvernia University (8-6, 2-3) scored nine of the final eleven goals to down Eastern University (1-11, 0-5) in an offensive explosion that featured Alvernia scoring a record-setting 26 goals for a 26-13 win over Eastern on Wednesday afternoon in MAC Commonwealth women's lacrosse action at Eastern.
The game featured a series of milestones and records set for the Golden Wolves. Alvernia broke its single-game goals record with 26 on the game. The previous record of 23 goals has stood since it was set against Arcadia in 2007.
Erika Whitmoyer scored 10 goals in the game for a new career-high for the senior. Her 10 goals is the most scored by an Alvernia player in a single game since hall-of-famer Stacie Arnosky scored 11 back in 2002.
Both Whitmoyer and Haleigh Lackner also reached 50+ goals on the season. It's the first time since 2012 that not only one, but two women's lacrosse players scored 50+ goals in a season since the duo of Sarah George (78 goals) and Allison Bainbridge (60 goals) both reached the milestone in 2012 when Alvernia played a 20 game season. George's 78 goals in a season is the current Alvernia single-season record. Going into the final three games of the regular season, Whitmoyer stands at 58 goals and Lackner stands at 51.
Alvernia started the game fast, jumping out to a 4-1 lead after just over three minutes. Two of Alvernia's first four goals came off the stick of Whitmoyer, with Olivia McCambly and Meagan Moky recording the other two. Moky's goal, which was Alvernia's third of the game, came off a recovered ground ball off an Eastern shot that Moky took coast-to-coast to the opposite net.
Eastern cut Alvernia's lead in half, 4-2, before Alvernia outscored the Eagles 5-1 the rest of the quarter. Lackner and Whitmoyer each tallied two in the 5-1 run, and Sophia Ruocco scored the fifth as Alvernia took a 9-3 lead into the second quarter.
Eastern came storming back into it in the second, out-scoring Alvernia 5-4 in the second frame. Alvernia was able to keep some distance from the Eagles off of goals from Mackenzie McKinney, Whitmoyer, Lackner, and Natalie Frantz. Alvernia held the 13-8 advantage going into the second half.
Whitmoyer opened the third quarter with her sixth goal of the afternoon to build Alvernia's lead to 14-8. But Eastern scored the next to get within four, 14-10.
Alvernia did not let Eastern get any closer, as Alvernia scored three goals in one minute to jump out to a 17-10 lead. Two of the three goals in the quick burst were off the assist of McKinney, including a great look to Sherrin Smith.
Eastern got one back before Alvernia went on its 9-2 run to close out the game.
Holding a 17-11 lead, Lackner sparked the run with a man-up goal to mark her 50th of the season.
Goals from McCambly and Whitmoyer closed out the third quarter and put Alvernia up 20-11 with one quarter to go.
A goal from Whitmoyer opened the fourth quarter scoring and started the running clock with Alvernia holding a ten goal advantage, 21-11.
Alvernia added five more the rest of the way as the Golden Wolves came away with the 26-13 win and set the new team scoring record.
Whitmoyer led Alvernia's scoring with ten goals and two assists. Both Lackner and McCambly finished with five goals each. A total of nine Golden Wolves recorded a point for Alvernia on the afternoon.
Kasey Fox got the start in net for Alvernia, making eight saves in three quarters. Katharine Giannaras finished off the game in net with one save.
The Golden Wolves are off this weekend for the Easter holiday before returning to action next Wednesday at Albright.
