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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Tara Pluger scored three goals while four of her teammates each added one but the Davenport women's lacrosse team couldn't find a rhythm to get back into the contest as its crosstown rival Aquinas cruised to a 19-7 win in the Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference Tournament opener on a rainy Thursday afternoon. The Panthers will face the loser of the top-seed Indiana Tech and Siena Heights in the consolation game Saturday.
 
Joining Pluger in the goals department were Emily DeVries, Sara Kuzava, Hannah Maroe and Taylor Balch. Balch also notch the Panthers (7-8) only assist on the afternoon. Netminder Lena Henderson stopped four shots between the posts on the Panthers behalf.
 
The Saints (12-4) got on the board under three minutes into the contest, but the lead didn't last long as DeVries tied it up five seconds later. Aquinas regained the lead at 23:16 and added five more to take 7-1 lead at the 16:39 mark. While the Panthers defense let the Saints score one goal the rest of the half, Kuzava would tally the second goal at 14:08 and Pluger scored the final goal of the half as DU went into intermission trailing 8-3.
 
Pluger would score her second goal of the day at 26:29 but the Saints immediately answered back approximately three seconds later. Although Aquinas ran away with the lead by scoring 11 goals in the second period, Davenport got goals from Maroe at 21:13, Pluger again at 8:54 and Balch at 6:10.
 
Post-Game Notes
After meeting three times in 10 days, Davenport's all-time record against Aquinas drops to 0-6…Tara Pluger has recorded her second consecutive hat trick game as well as her third consecutive multi-goal day.
 
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