STAFF REPORTS
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BUFFALO — Eight different members of the Blue and Gold scored, as the Canisius women’s lacrosse team continued its strong conference play, gaining an 18-5 win over Iona Saturday morning from the Demske Sports Complex.
Junior Erica Evans had a season-high seven goals in the victory, while adding an assist, seven ground balls, seven caused turnovers and four draw controls to her stat line.
Senior Ashley Bull started the game on a high note for the Golden Griffins, winning the opening draw, and breaking former Griff Megan Oosting’s career draw controls record at 202.
Evans would get the scoring going less than a minute later, at 29:22, with a free position goal to put the Griffs up 1-0.
Over the next several minutes both teams struggled to find the back of the net, but Iona’s Grace Celona was able to tie the contest at 22:05.
Following the Gaels’ goal, Canisius would go on a 4-0 run over the next 2:34 that saw goals from Evans (2), sophomore Tessa Chad and junior Jen Reininger, putting the score at 5-1 at the 18:40 mark.
Iona would fight back, scoring two of the games next three goals, closing the gap to 6-3 at 13:14, but the Blue and Gold would score eight unanswered marks to take a 14-3 lead into the half.
Over the 8-0 run, Bull scored twice, while Chad, Evans, Reininger, Roemer Smolensky and Stewart each added a tally.
The second half of the match lacked the offensive fireworks of the first, with the teams scoring a combined six goals in the final 30 minutes.
Evans would put home her sixth and seventh goals of the game in the second half, while Reininger added her third of the day. Also picking up a goal was sophomore Brenna Shanahan, her second of the season.
With the win, the Griffs move to 7-4 overall and 2-0 in MAAC play. Iona is now 3-8 overall and 0-2 against MAAC opponents.
Junior goalkeeper Rebecca VanLaeken picked up her seventh win of the season (7-4), making five saves.
The Golden Griffins will next host Siena at 4 p.m. Wednesday from the Demske Sports Complex.
