AVE MARIA, Fla. – The third-ranked Davenport women's lacrosse started their season on Wednesday afternoon as they took on Ave Maria down in Florida. Six different players recorded hat tricks for the Lady Panthers as they defeated the Gyrenes, 22-1 to start their 2015 campaign. Davenport will return to Michigan next week as they open their WHAC schedule next Saturday against Lourdes in Adrian, Mich., at 1 p.m.
 
Taylor Balch led the Panthers with five goals in the game, while chipping in with four assists, while Sara Kuzava and Brooke Knoll each scored four goals. Paige VanWieren, Tara Pluger and Kaitlyn Lowden rounded out the Davenport scorers as they tallied three goals apiece, and Pluger chipped in with four assists, while Lowden had three.
 
Kuzava started the scoring for Davenport, as she struck for her first goal of the game just 2:32 into the first half on an unassisted opportunity. The Lady Panthers continued to control the game as they were able to score 12 more times in the half to take a 13-0 lead at the half.
 
Davenport did not let up in the second half as Pluger started the scoring in the second half for Davenport to cap off her hat-trick. The Lady Panthers scored the next five goals, before the Gyrenes finally got on the board with 11:51 left in the game. Davenport scored the final three goals of the game in the last five minutes of play to beat Ave Maria 22-1.
 
The Lady Panthers will return to Michigan next week as they open up their WHAC slate on the road against Lourdes in Adrian, Mich., next Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
Women's Lacrosse Contact: David Gerhart | 616-554-5045 | dgerhart@davenport.edu
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