Written by Sports Information Student Assistant, Jake Sipes-Salter

HANOVER, Ind. - In the first of two games that they will host at Alumni Stadium during the month of March, the Hanover women's lacrosse team was able to secure a 14-7 victory over UW-LaCrosse on Friday afternoon. 

The Panthers, winners in three of their last four match-ups, advanced to 3-2 on the 2020 campaign, while UW-LaCrosse fell to 0-2 thus far in their inaugural season. 

HC was able to get on the board first when senior Emma Boomershine (Louisville, Ky.) banged one home with 26:27 to go in the half. Though the Eagles responded back at 22:34, the Blue and Red countered with a 5-0 run, kicked off by an assist from senior Kinna Balasko (Fishers, Ind.) to sophomore Milah Young (Granger, Ind.) with 22:30 on the clock. On the run, Boomershine had two more scores, while Balasko and sophomore Eme Edman (Niles, Mich.) also registered goals. With 15:54 until halftime, Hanover led by a 6-1 tally. UW-LaCrosse hit the back of the net on a free position shot from Anna Davis at 6:14, and from here until the rest of the half the two teams traded a series of three goals, with two more coming from Young. By the break, the Panthers held an 8-3 advantage. 

The second half saw Boomershine tally her fourth score, which also marked her 100th career goal and pushed a 9-3 upper hand for the Blue and Red. The Eagles would follow this up with two scores of their own, cutting HC's lead to 9-5 with 23:51 on the scoreboard. However, Hanover would go on another run, this time a three-score string, started by sophomore Anne Breeding (Miamisburg, Ohio) and capped by a pair of goals from Balasko that extended a 12-5 Panther lead. Though a quick score came from UW-LaCrosse at 11:49, Young and Balasko each found the net again, with Young's coming via a dime from sophomore Dianet Sanchez-Vega (Louisville, Ky.). One more late goal by the Eagles would conclude scoring at 3:38 left in the game. 

Offensively, Balasko, Boomershine, and Young each scored four goals, with Balasko adding an assist on Boomershine's second score. Sanchez-Vega, along with senior Laurel Atchison (Florence, Ky.) contributed two assists in the victory. Breeding and Edman each hit the back of the net to further the offensive output. Defensively, Young won 10 of Hanover's 13 draw controls and caused a team-high three turnovers. Sophomore Emily Christian (Louisville, Ky.) corralled four groundballs and caused a pair of turnovers, making her one of two players with multiple forced errors. In the net, senior Julia Long (Cincinnati, Ohio) scooped up a squad-best six grounders while making 19 saves, 11 of which came in the first half. 

As a unit, Hanover was outshot 37-27, but they were able to convert on 14 of those attempts while holding the Eagles to seven goals on their 37 total shots. The Blue and Red were also proficient in their free position attempts, converting on three-of-six while holding UW-LaCrosse to 4-of-11. 

HC will return to the field at 2 p.m., Sunday, March 8, when they travel to face the Heidelberg (Ohio) Student Princes.