Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's lacrosse team secured a significant victory on Friday, defeating Southwestern 19-7 at Simpson Field. This win not only marked their entry into the inaugural Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Tournament but also celebrated Samantha Burns reaching her 100th career goal. Burns is now the second player in the program's history to achieve this milestone.

Reegan Werner contributed significantly with eight points, bringing her career total to 97 and helping the Blugolds secure the No. 4 seed for the upcoming WIAC Tournament. This will be the first-ever WIAC Tournament in women's lacrosse, with UW-Eau Claire being one of four teams to qualify.

During Friday's game, UW-Eau Claire maintained a strong performance throughout. They scored seven goals in the first quarter alone, with Devon Crews netting two of those early goals. The team extended their lead by outscoring Southwestern 4-1 in the second quarter, thanks in part to three consecutive goals from Paige Kiani.

In a dominant third quarter, Southwestern failed to score while UW-Eau Claire added two more goals to their tally. The Blugolds then sealed their victory with six additional goals in the fourth quarter. Werner led after halftime with three goals.

Overall, Werner and Kiani each scored four goals during the match. Victoria Shea added three more, while Burns, Crews, and Alexie Romanelli each scored twice. Eight different players contributed to UW-Eau Claire's scoring effort in this game.

UW-Eau Claire excelled across all team statistical categories against Southwestern, recording more shots, draw controls, ground balls, and clears than their opponents.

Looking ahead to postseason play as the No. 4 seed in the WIAC Tournament, UW-Eau Claire will face off against the No. 1 seed on May 3 at Ramer Field hosted by UW-River Falls. The match is scheduled for 5 p.m., though their opponent has yet to be determined.

For ongoing updates on UW-Eau Claire's season activities and performances, visit Blugolds.com or access information via their app "Blugold Sports."