COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Capital University women's lacrosse team won their eighth game in a row to start the 2022 season in comfortable fashion on Saturday afternoon, as they brushed aside the Oberlin College Yeowomen by a final score of 24-11.
In the process, Capital improved to 8-0 to start the season, their first such start to a season in program history. Their previous best record through eight games was 7-1, during the 2018 campaign.
Once again, the dangerous trio of
Grace Osborn,
Luci Kanowsky and
Brooke Delara were busy offensively as they combined for 16 goals and 10 assists today. Getting in on the act with multi-goal games as well were
Audrey Kilgallon – who netted her first career hat-trick – and
Julia Foresi.
Abigail Midnight,
Avery Hart, and
Dylan Smith accounted for a single goal each.
In the defensive game, Capital picked up 21 ground balls and caused 11 turnovers, led by Osborn's four ground balls and Smith's two caused turnovers. In the cage,
Bee Kuehn made five saves.
What proved to be most impressive today was Capital's dominance at the draw control, where the team won 27 draw controls as a unit.
Katie Page and
Grace Osborn combined for 22 of those, with Page collecting 14 by herself and Osborn with eight.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Comets once again fell behind as the visitors scored the game's first goal after just 19 seconds of play. Despite the early trailing, Cap stormed back, using the opening draws to their advantage.
Across the remainder of the first period, the Comets set the record straight, establishing a 10-3 lead after just 15 minutes of play. Osborn scored five goals in the stretch, while Kanowsky scored three times. The other two goals went the way of Delara and Smith.
In the second quarter, the Comets kept the pedal to the metal as they scored another seven goals before halftime. All seven goals were scored by the combo of Osborn, Kanowsky, Delara and Foresi.
Out of the halftime intermission, Capital continued their dominance going forward, but got some others involved. Foresi scored another before Kanowsky finished off her afternoon of scoring. The final five goals for Capital were scored by
Abigail Midnight,
Avery Hart, and three from
Audrey Kilgallon.
RECORD BOOK UPDATE
Katie Page broke the single-game record for most draw controls with 14 this afternoon. Her efforts helped the team to their most draw controls in a single game with 27. The previous records stood at 12 (
Alex Lowry) and 24 (2018).
Grace Osborn – for the second straight game – tied the single-game record for most goals with eight. She is tied with four others who have also accomplished the feat in the past.
Brooke Delara continues her quest for the career point record as her seven points today put her at 284. The number to beat is 302 set by Kat Walton from 2017-21. Delara also staked her claim to eighth most ground balls in program history as she boasts 101 career pick-ups to her name.
The team also flirted with breaking other single-game records today, tying for second most goals (24) and taking the second most shots (48).
THE OPPONENT
Bette Imhoff led Oberlin with three goals, while Abigail Patchen led the way with two assists. Imhoff also had a team-high six draw controls. Annie Payne had five ground balls in the game. A trio of goaltenders combined for 14 saves, while Logan McDermott-Most had 11 of those stops.
UP NEXT
The Comets will be back in action on Wednesday, March 23rd on the road at Wittenberg University. The game will serve as Capital's final non-conference tune-up before they kickstart OAC play on March 26th. The opening draw is slated for 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
