ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University Women's Lacrosse team exploded to an 11-0 lead on their way to a 16-2 defeat of Immaculata University in the Atlantic East Conference tournament semifinals on Saturday afternoon.
Alena Catka had a record-breaking day as she scored four goals with 10 assists and 14 points. Her assist and point total established new single-game records in Neumann program history. She also added 12 draw controls, three caused turnovers, and six ground balls.
Krista Geibler had three goals and an assist while
Rachel Roane contributed three goals.
The Knights wasted very little time in establishing dominance as Catka took the opening draw and scored ten seconds into the game. She struck again 45 seconds later to double the lead. Catka completed a hat trick 4:35 into the game with
Maggie Miller and Geibler scoring as well. With a player-down, Miller and Catka again notched goals 25 seconds apart to extend the lead to seven. After an
Ainsley George goal, Roane scored two player-down goals in a span of 29 seconds. Geibler closed out the first with a goal to lead by 11.
Immaculata broke the shutout at the 12:20 mark of the second while Geibler scored the lone Knights goal in the period to lead 12-1. In the third,
Gracie Kucia,
Nora Brady, and
Kenna Sanders got on the board. For Brady, it was her first career goal, and Neumann led 16-1. With the game secured, Neumann pulled back and allowed the clock to run out after the Mighty Macs scored the only goal of the fourth.
Neumann (8-8), with today's win, have advanced to the Atlantic East Conference championship game for the second straight season. Next Saturday, the Knights will host Marywood University, looking for their first conference title. The game is scheduled for a 1:00 PM start.
