The Virginia Wesleyan University women's lacrosse team (6-4, 1-1 ODAC) used a dominant second quarter to surge past Eastern Mennonite, earning a 23-8 victory at home on Wednesday afternoon.
Reese Morgenthaler led the way with four goals, while
Kenna Duplechin delivered a game-high seven goals in a standout offensive performance.
Gianna Delevan added three goals and several assists, playing a key role in facilitating the Marlins' attack.
Maddisen Selvage,
Creelyn Bastinelli, and
Daphne Myers each recorded two goals, with Myers also adding assists in a well-rounded effort.
The Marlins came out strong in the opening quarter, battling through an early back-and-forth stretch. Duplechin and Delevan helped pace the offense as Virginia Wesleyan held a narrow 4-3 advantage after one period.
In the second quarter, Virginia Wesleyan broke the game open with an explosive nine-goal performance. Duplechin sparked the run with multiple scores, while Morgenthaler and Delevan connected to extend the lead. The Marlins capitalized on key opportunities, including man-up situations, and closed the half on a dominant run to take a 13-6 lead into the break.
After halftime, Virginia Wesleyan maintained control on both ends of the field. The Marlins added six goals in the third quarter, highlighted by contributions from Schneider, Myers, and Morgenthaler, while continuing to generate scoring chances in transition.
In the final period, the Marlins continued to apply pressure, adding four more goals to seal the victory. Duplechin capped her impressive outing with additional late scores, while Selvage and Stapleton each found the back of the net.
Virginia Wesleyan showed consistency throughout the second half, limiting opportunities defensively while continuing to execute offensively. The Marlins' balanced attack and strong second-quarter surge proved to be the difference as they secured their first ODAC win of the season.
