Just a year ago, the Eastern Michigan University women's lacrosse had begun its journey as a program and had yet to win a conference game. Now, a year later after a Sunday afternoon in Detroit, the Eagles have improved to 3-0 in Mid-American Conference play after downing the University of Detroit Mercy, 12-9, at Titan Field.
The Eagles took an early 1-0 lead after a goal from sophomore Kyleigh Dill (Dover, Del.) gave sophomore Avery Schwab (Dublin, Ohio) the assist. The Titans would then tie it at one all, but Schwab and freshman Kelsea Dauge (Lancaster, Pa.) would find the net on back-to-back goals before Detroit Mercy scored another to put the score at 3-2 at the end of the first quarter.
The Titans would take the lead in the second quarter as they scored twice to take a 4-3 lead, but sophomore Mackenzie Blackwell (North Beach, Md.) would score the equalizer to bring the score tied, 4-4, heading into halftime.
The third quarter would open up with a Detroit Mercy goal to take a 5-4 lead, but freshman Ally Moore (Annandale, N.J.) would drill a woman-up goal followed by another goal from sophomore Abby Alderman (Lusby, Md.) to put the score in the Eagles' favor, 6-5. The Titans would then score another equalizer of their own to bring things to 6-6 entering the fourth quarter.
Detroit Mercy opened the final quarter to regain the lead, but the Eagles fought right back as Alderman, Dague, and Blackwell all notched their second scores of the day to give EMU a 9-7 advantage. The Titans would tie things up 9-9 before Dague would notch her third and fourth goals of the day while Blackwell secured her third to give the Eagles a 12-9 lead.
Dague led the Eagles offensively as she finished with four goals and two assists, allocating six points. It marked her first collegiate hat trick as her goal and point totals are career highs, while her assists tied her previous high recorded twice earlier.
Blackwell notched her eighth hat trick in 10 games this season and 14th of her career.
Next up, the Eagles will take on conference and intrastate rival Central Michigan University in a battle for first place in the MAC in Ypsilanti, Mich., on Sunday, April 14. That game is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.
