AMHERST, New York -- The Lake Erie women's lacrosse team faced off against Daemen University on Friday, falling 15-2. After trailing 9-0 at halftime, the Storm finally got on the board in the second half, thanks to Brooke McNeal, who scored unassisted in both the third and fourth periods. With the loss, Lake Erie drops to 0-3 on the season. As they continue their non-conference schedule before meeting Ashland on March 19, the team hopes to show noticeable improvement as chemistry develops.

Game Recap

The Wildcats controlled possession for much of the first half, dictating the pace and repeatedly pressuring Lake Erie's defense. By halftime, the Storm had managed just four total shots compared to Daemen's 22, a lopsided stat that made for an uphill battle. Despite the deficit, Lake Erie kept competing, knowing that logging minutes together and running set plays would pay off as the season progresses.

In the second half, the Storm found more success advancing the ball, cutting their turnovers from 11 to six while more than doubling their shot attempts.

Sophomore Brooke McNeal continues to shine. After a 20-goal freshman season, she has now scored in all three games this year, including Lake Erie's only two goals Friday night. She also led the team with five of their seven draw controls.

Defensively, Shannon Smith led the way with three ground balls and two caused turnovers, while Avery Artino played the full 60 minutes in net, recording nine saves.

The Matchup

Friday marked just the second-ever meeting between these programs, with Lake Erie now 0-2 against Daemen. Their first matchup in 2023 was a much closer battle, as the Storm fell 14-10 at home.

Looking Ahead

After a weather-related postponement earlier this season, Lake Erie is set to host Saginaw Valley State on Thursday, March 6. The Cardinals have played just one game so far, a 20-9 loss to Northwood, and will face Tiffin on Sunday. The Storm will be keeping a close eye on that matchup as they prepare for their next challenge.