Four Cardinals scored multiple goals as the 18th-ranked Louisville lacrosse team defeated Vermont 19-8 on Saturday afternoon at the UofL Lacrosse Stadium. Louisville improves to 8-2 in season openers.
Sophomore McKayla Conti led the team with a career-high six goals, while fellow sophomore Meghan Siverson added five goals. Seniors Hannah Koloski and Heidi Smith both finished with three goals.
Louisville jumped out to a 2-0 lead to start the game. Conti scored the first goal of the season for the Cards at the 28:48 mark. Koloski scored her first goal of the season at the 27:37 mark. Vermont responded with a 4-0 run, led by a trio of goals from Jenna James.
The Cardinals made some quick adjustments, sparking a 7-0 run that stretched into the second half. The run saw both Siverson and Conti get their first career hat tricks. Elise Koehl also got her first goal of the season off an assist from freshman Ashley Lynch. Vermont went on a 3-0 run to cut the Louisville lead to two (9-7) at the 25:46 mark of the second half.
The Cardinals then used a 10-1 run to put the game away. Lynch scored her first goal of the season during the run at the 7:06 mark to give the Cards a 13-8 lead. The duo of senior scorers both notched their hat trick goals during the run. Siverson scored her fifth goal of the game to seal the victory for the Cards at 19-8.
Jenna Janes led Vermont in goals with three, while Alison Bolt tallied two goals and assisted on another.
Junior goalkeeper Brittany Read finished with six saves on the day, while Vermont’s Maddy Kuras made 20 saves in a losing effort.
Louisville finished with a 51-16 shot advantage, a 21-12 ground ball advantage. Despite the loss of draw specialist Kaylin Morissette, the Cardinals held a 19-10 draw control advantage. Siverson finished with a career-high nine draws. Vermont had 21 turnovers compared to 10 for Louisville.
The Cardinals return to action when they head north to face Marquette on Friday, Feb. 10th at 3:00 p.m.
Kimberli Pemberton
Assistant Sports Information Director