CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Women's Lacrosse cruised to a 17-9 win over Holy Cross on Tuesday evening after a seven-goal outburst in the third quarter helped lead Harvard to its second straight win.
The Batchelder sisters combined for 16 points on the night, as the duo both had career nights in the win over the Crusaders. Harvard is now 3-3 in non-conference games this season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Cecelia Batchelder opened the game with the first three Crimson goals after some nice passing plays from Harvard. Starting with a clear from Despina Giannakopoulos, the senior defender found Lexie Koch down low, who fed Batchelder for her first of three to start the game.
Batchelder would net her second off another nice pass, this time from her sister Callie Batchelder, as the junior recorded her 100th career point on the play. Batchelder completed the hat trick less than five minutes into the game after being left alone in front following a quick start from the Crimson.
Despite the three goals from Batchelder, the Crimson only led 3-2 as Holy Cross responded after the first two goals in an exciting opening stretch from Jordan Field.
The second Crimson this season to have an offensive explosion in the first quarter, Batchelder- who had never scored three goals in a single game-added her fourth of the quarter with 6:33 left in the first.
Emerson Midura was the first Crimson to score other than Cecilia Batchelder, converting on a free-position look to make it 5-2 as the first quarter wound down. The Crimson held a three-goal lead heading into the second quarter.
The two teams traded punches in the second quarter as Harvard pushed to take a commanding lead. Netting another four goals in the frame, Holy Cross responded with four of their own to make it 9-6 at the half.
Charlotte Hodgson opened the second half with a goal after picking the corner on a free-position look to net Harvard's 10th goal of the game. The senior then added a second consecutive goal for the Crimson after cutting toward the net and picking the far corner.
The reigning Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week added on for the Crimson after Gillian picked up her first of the game to give Harvard its biggest lead of the night. The Crimson extended that lead after outscoring the Crusaders 7-1 coming out of the break. Hodgson, Gillian, Grace Mullahy, and both Batchelder sisters all scored in the seven-goal outburst as Harvard led 16-7 at the end of the third.
Cecilia Batchelder scored the lone goal for the Crimson in the fourth quarter as Harvard secured its second straight win and now looks ahead to another Ivy League game on Saturday.
GAME NOTES
- Callie Batchelder led the way offensively with nine points on the night. Adding three goals and six assists, it marked a career night for the junior.
- Her sister, Cecelia Batchelder led the scoring for the Crimson after netting her first career hat trick before adding three more goals to finish the game with six goals and an assist.
- Grace Mullahy picked up her second hat trick of the season and her first since the season opener against Notre Dame.
- Mullahy has recorded a multi-goal game in five of eight games this year and has scored in all but one.
- Despina Giannakopoulos led the way defensively with eight ground balls and three caused turnovers in the best defensive outing from a Crimson defender this season.
- Lexie Koch won eight draws on the night.
NEXT UP
Harvard hosts Brown on Saturday at Jordan Field.
