PAINESVILLE, Ohio -- The Lake Erie women's lacrosse team dominated from start to finish in a Thursday night matchup against Saginaw Valley State, cruising to an 18-4 victory. The Cardinals, playing their inaugural season, struggled to contain the surging Storm, especially while fielding just 11 of the typical 12 players. This numbers advantage was crucial, as Lake Erie capitalized near the net, scoring more goals than in their previous three games combined. The last time they netted more in a single game was in 2019, when they defeated Ursuline 22-3.

Tonight's victory also marks a historic milestone—the 100th win in program history. With the win, the Storm improve to 1-3 on the season, with two non-conference games remaining before beginning G-MAC play against Ashland on March 19.

Game Recap

The Storm wasted no time asserting their dominance, with Isabella Tudisco and Brooke McNeal finding the net within the first minute. Three additional goals stretched their lead to five before Saginaw Valley State responded with back-to-back goals. However, McNeal quickly restored control, securing her hat trick within 12 minutes. Madelyn Goodrich then poured it on, scoring twice before the period ended, completing her own hat trick and pushing Lake Erie's lead to 8-2.

The second period followed a similar script, with the Storm controlling possession and dictating the pace. They outscored Saginaw Valley State 5-0, turning a once-tight contest into a running clock by the midway point of the quarter. Goodrich added another goal, bringing her total to four by halftime, while Reese Friesen and Rachel Rose continued their strong performances, each contributing multiple points. At the break, the Storm held a commanding 13-2 lead, having scored eight unanswered goals.

Saginaw Valley State showed some fight coming out of halftime, scoring twice to trim the deficit to nine. However, McNeal quickly defused any hope of a comeback, adding two more goals to reach a career-high six on the night. Vanessa Krix joined the scoring action near the end of the third, notching her first goal of the season and extending Lake Erie's lead to 16-4.

The fourth quarter slowed down, with only two goals—both by the Storm. Defender Shannon Smith netted her first goal of the season with 12:25 remaining, and Rachel Rose capped the night with her second goal to go along with two assists. When the final whistle blew, Lake Erie had secured their first win of the season in emphatic fashion, 18-4.

Player Notes

• Brooke McNeal's six goals are the most by a Storm player in a single game since Madelyn Goodrich scored seven in a 14-13 overtime win against Felician in 2023.

• Goodrich's four-goal performance marked the seventh time in her career she has hit that mark.

• Reese Friesen recorded a career-high three assists, while Rachel Rose added two assists, continuing her impressive freshman campaign. Both also scored twice.

• Lainey Davis, Shannon Smith, Isabella Tudisco, and Vanessa Krix combined for the remaining four goals, each tallying their first of the season.

• Goodrich led the team with five ground balls, while Davis paced the Storm in controls (3). McNeal (6) and Smith (4) combined for 10 of the team's 13 draw controls.

• In goal, Avery Artino played the first two periods, recording three saves. Bethany Kirkwood took over in the third, and Ainsley Sutter finished the game, making one save.

Team Notes

• The Storm fired 32 shots compared to Saginaw Valley State's 13—their first time outshooting an opponent this season and their best margin since last year's 44-0 rout of Ursuline.

• Lake Erie played an extremely physical game, picking up nine green cards and three yellows, while the Cardinals had none.

• Draw controls were nearly even (13-12 in favor of Lake Erie), but the Storm excelled in transition, going 16-for-19 on clears while holding Saginaw Valley State to just 9-for-23.

• The Storm also collected five more ground balls (29-24) and committed four fewer turnovers (32-28).

Looking Ahead

Next up, the Storm travel to Georgia for their first-ever matchup against Emmanuel. The Lions, coming off a 13-5 season that ended in the conference playoffs, currently sit at 3-2 in 2025.