Women’s lacrosse: Comets beat Hiram, 14-5

BEVERLY HILLS, Mich. – The Olivet College women's lacrosse team scored the first four goals in the game and never looked back in beating Hiram (Ohio) College, 14-5, tonight at the Detroit Country Day School Field House in Beverly Hills. The 14 goals ties for the third-most in school history for a game.

The first four goals – one by senior Geri Merrell, two by senior Taylor Guarnaccia and one by junior Jessica Doster – were all scored in the first eight minutes of the game. After the Terriers netted a goal with 20 minutes left in the first half, the Comets scored three consecutive goals – one each by Inman, Merrell and senior Brittany Hayes – to take a 7-1 lead. Hiram put the final three points on the scoreboard in the first half to trail by three, 7-4, at the break.

Like the first half, Olivet scored the first four goals – one each by freshman Krystin Verran, Merrell, Guarnaccia and Inman – to go up 11-4 with 10:45 left in the game. The Terriers scored their last goal at the 8:13 mark. The Comets netted the final three goals – two by Inman and one by Guarnaccia. The first two goals were scored only 33 seconds apart.

For the game, Olivet had a 28-12 advantage in total shots. Guarnaccia and Inman scored four goals apiece on seven and nine shots, respectively. Inman also tied the individual single-game school records with five caused turnovers and nine ground balls. Merrell had three goals. Sophomore Xavier Vance earned the win in goal, playing 55 minutes and collecting three saves.

Olivet returns home tonight and then makes the drive over to Kalamazoo College to play Benedictine (Ill.) University tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m.