WORCESTER, Mass. – Clark University women's lacrosse used a huge offensive effort to get back into the win column on Sunday afternoon as Kiley Simmons (Atkinson, N.H.) and Elysia Hall (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) tallied six goals each to power the Cougars to a 20-9 non-conference win over Nichols at Granger Field.

The Basics

Score: Cougars 20, Bison 9

Records: Clark University (3-2) | Nichols (0-1)

How it Happened

Hall and Simmons paced the high-power offense of the Cougars while taking 12 and nine shots respectively to net the combined 12 goals. Sophomore Ilah Hardersen (Buckley, Wash.) picked up her third hat-trick of the season with three goals while Anna Joyce (Hopkinton, Mass.) registered two markers and dished out an assist to make it five-straight games with at least one point. 

First-years Sophie Didier (Overland Park, Kans.), Sienna Sorbello (Peterborough, N.H.) and Elizabeth Liakos (Arlington, Mass.) all found the net once to round out the goal-scorers for Clark in the victory.

For Nichols, a four-goal effort by Danielle Kozloski paced six goal-scorers for the visiting Bison with 

A goal from Nichols' Elizabeth Luster just 13 seconds in gave the visitors the early 1-0 lead, but Clark quickly gained control with Hardersen tying the score on an unassisted marker at the 29:31 mark in the half to spark a four-goal run which also saw two goals by Hall.

With a 7-4 lead in the contest, the Cougars offense erupted to close out the opening session, striking for the final seven goals to take a 13-4 advantage to the break. Simmons began to find her rhythm as the first-year notched four of her six goals over that stretch, starting at the 9:02 mark and closing it out with 12 seconds left off a feed from sophomore Enis Perez (Coventry, R.I.).

Nichols chipped away at the deficit to begin the second half with Kozolski scoring just over five minutes in. Joyce answered back for the Cougars exactly one minute later before a pair of Bison goals trimmed the gap, 14-7, for the visitors. 

With 19:10 remaining in regulation, the Cougars received a marker from Simmons to swing momentum back to the side of the host, outscoring Nichols 6-2 throughout the remaining time on the clock. Hall helped put the game out of reach as the first-year found the net three times over the final 13 minutes while Simmons and Hardersen each offered a goal in that time en route to the convincing 20-9 victory.

In net for the Cougars, senior Maggie Paul (Falmouth, Mass.) moved to 3-2 on the season as she turned aside eight of the 17 shots faced during the complete-game effort. Sabrina Dembro and Molly Steen split the game in net for the Bison, stopping five and nine shots respectively.

Clark was boosted its dominance in the possession categories, controlling 20-of-29 draws while leading in groundballs by a 26-17 margin. The Cougars also outshot the Bison, 44-21.

Up Next

The Cougars look to continue the momentum on Saturday, March 14 when they host Dean College for a 3:00 PM matchup at Granger Field.