Firebirds Held Scoreless in Loss at Wilmington

NEWARK, DE – The University of the District of Columbia women's lacrosse team suffered a 21-0 loss on the road at non-conference foe Wilmington University (DE) on Tuesday afternoon at the Wilmington University Athletic Complex.

Freshman goalkeeper Dani Falco (English/Elementary Education – Middletown, NY/Valley Central HS) made six saves and had a team-high five ground balls in a complete game effort for the Firebirds. Senior midfielder Snezana Blagojevic (Business Management – Kragujevac, Serbia/Shepherd) was the most active offensive player with four shots and three ground balls, and senior defender Tara Usko (History – Spring Creek, NV/Feather River College) won a team-high four draw controls.

Wilmington (7-7) was led offensively by Madeline Hewitt and Ashley Kroll. Hewitt had four goals and one assist and Kroll had four goals and two assists. Penelope Fantis also added a hat trick while seven other Wildcat players scored at least one goal as well.

The Wildcats won 17 of 23 draw controls, out-shot UDC 35-6 and won more ground balls, 25-16. Wilmington was also 2-for-4 on free-position shots while holding UDC to 0-for-2, and was successful on 8-of-9 clear attempts while UDC was just 5-of-14. The Firebirds also committed 17 turnovers to WU's 12.

Kroll scored a pair of goals on the first two shots of the game by either team, both within the first 47 seconds of regulation. She added her 3^rd goal at the 21:30 mark, and the Wildcats' relentless offensive attack never let up, allowing Wilmington to take a 15-0 halftime lead.

The Wildcats still out-shot UDC 13-3 in the second half and added six more goals in the closing period to bolster its lead until ultimately winning by a final score of 21-0.

The Firebirds (0-8, 0-6 ECC) will visit the No. 1 ranked team in the country and two-time reigning Division II national champion LIU Post on Saturday, April 19^th.