PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle women's lacrosse team (1-2) defeated Central Michigan (1-2) on a chilly, wet day at McCarthy Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The women played excellent in all facets, recording their highest goal total since April 21 of last year when they put up 21 on Duquesne, and allowing the least amount of goals since April 8, 2016 when they surrendered just four to St. Bonaventure.

The Explorer offense scored nine of the first ten goals of the game, causing the Chippewas to call multiple timeouts to try and regroup. Central Michigan made two goalie changes but had no answer for La Salle, who took a 11-3 lead into the half. Brittany Edwards turned it up on the second frame, scoring three goals. She finished with a team-high five scores on eight shots to go along with two assists.

Scoring was very spread out as eight different women scored at least once in the game. Freshman Bridget Ruskey, the team's leading scorer entering the game, found the back of the net four times on six shots. Brittany Stevens scored La Salle's last two goals of the game and finished with three. Emily Johnston scored twice while Rachel Ceplo, Mikki Raymond, Hope Smith, and Annina Iacobucci each scored once. Johnston also had five draw controls and Ceplo had a team-high four caused turnovers.

Lynne Frankel, who drew the start in goal, made a season-high seven saves in the game, including multiple saves on free position shots.

Ashley Blanton finished with a team-high three ground balls and two caused turnovers. Allison Hunter recorded six draw controls. 

As a whole, La Salle led in shots (28-16), shots on goal (22-13), ground balls (12-7), and draw controls (16-9) while also causing more turnovers (17-11).

The win marks the first of the season for head coach Candace Taglianetti Bossell and the Explorers. The Blue and Gold remain at home for their next two contests. La Salle hosts Marist on Saturday, March 3 at noon.