DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – The Cedar Crest College lacrosse team opened its 2023 season with a 19-5 loss at Delaware Valley University in a non-conference tilt at Lipinski Field.

The Aggies outscored the Falcons 6-2 in the opening quarter. Cedar Crest scored the first pair separated by 2:40 of game time. Sophomore Maddie Graham (Clayton, Del./Smyrna) found the back of the net with 11:42 to play while Graham set up senior Emily Schoelier (Newton, N.J./Sussex County Technical) with 9:02 remaining to give Cedar Crest the 2-0 advantage. Delaware Valley responded with a 6-0 run, which included three goals from junior Kiara Haywood-Rivera (Cinnaminson, N.J.).

The Aggies got the first goal of the second stanza from sophomore Viola Anderson (Bakersfield, Calif.) which was then answered by a tally from Graham to make the score, 7-3. Delaware Valley closed the quarter on a 4-0 spurt to carry an 11-3 advantage into the half.

The teams traded goals to begin the third quarter. Junior Ashley Birmingham (Leesport, Pa.) deposited one for the Aggies while Graham completed her hat trick for Cedar Crest with 13:35 remaining. Delaware Valley finished the frame on a 6-0 run, including three straight makers from sophomore Susan Rawding (Brookfield, Conn.) to make the score 18-4 at the end of three.

Each squad found the back of the net once in the final stanza. Senior Allison Grzembski (Webster, Mass.) put one home for the Aggies with 13:12 to play in regulation while first-year Brooke Holley (Elkton, Md./Elkton) registered her first collegiate goal with 3:50 to go for the 19-5 final. The Holley marker was assisted by Graham.

Sophomore Caroline Berg (Severn, Md.) collected one save in goal for Delaware Valley. Junior Mira Carver (Lebanon, N.J./North Hunterdon) made eight saves in the setback for Cedar Crest.

The Falcons registered 18 ground balls in the contest, led by Carver with five. Sophomore Abi Sipel (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) followed with four, junior Adriana Dias (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) recorded three, sophomores Rachel Bilger (Philadelphia, Pa./Upper Dublin) and Lauren Jackson (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon) each had two, while junior Kayleigh Woomer (Gales Ferry, Conn./Ledyard) and Schoelier closed the category with one apiece.

Cedar Crest also had eight draw controls and seven caused turnovers in the contest. In the draw control category, Graham recorded two, first-year Kylah Demarest (Vernon, N.J./Vernon Township) and Woomer each had one, while four were registered to the team. Woomer, Schoelier, and Sipel had two caused turnovers apiece while sophomore Lauren Jackson (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon) rounded out the category with one.

Graham paced the Falcons with five points with a hat trick and two assists.

Cedar Crest (0-1 overall) starts the home portion of its schedule against Anne Arundel Community College on Tuesday, March 21 at 5:00 p.m. Delaware Valley (2-3 overall) will travel to Ursinus College for a non-conference game on Wednesday, March 22 at 4:00 p.m.

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