Women’s lacrosse: Guarnaccia scores 100th goal in Comets’ 18-7 loss at Calvin

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Olivet College women's lacrosse team opened Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play with an 18-7 loss to Calvin College tonight at Zuidema Field in Grand Rapids. Despite the loss, senior Taylor Guarnaccia scored two goals, which now gives her 100 goals in her career at Olivet.

The Knights raced out to a 6-0 lead in the first 10 minutes and 13 seconds of the game. Senior Geri Merrell scored twice to trim the Comets' deficit down to 6-2 with 18:36 left in the first half. Merrell and Guarnaccia each had a free-position goal sandwiched around unassisted goals by Calvin's Emily Cefaratti to make the score 8-4. The Knights ended the half on a 6-0 run to take a 14-4 lead at the intermission.

Calvin scored the first two goals of the second half to go up 16-4. The two teams exchanged the final five goals of the game, with freshman Krystin Verran, senior Mackenzie Inman and Guarnaccia scoring the Comet goals. Guarnaccia's goal was the 100th of her career with 4:41 left in the game.

Merrell led the way for Olivet with five points on three goals and two assists. All seven of her shots were placed on-goal. Guarnaccia also had an assist to go with her two goals for three points. Junior Hailey Bond started the game in goal, allowing eight goals and making three saves in 15 minutes. Sophomore Xavier Vance finished the game in net and collected 11 saves.

The Comets return to the field Saturday afternoon against Albion College. Game time at the Cutler Athletic Complex is 1 p.m.