Eight Belmont Abbey women's lacrosse players scored at least one goal, as freshman Mackenzie Miller netted seven on nine shots, as the Crusaders improved to 3-0 for the first time in school history with a decisive 23-3 win over Lees-McRae this afternoon at Alumni Field. Belmont Abbey is now 3-0 overall and 2-0 in Conference Carolinas, while Lees-McRae drops to 1-1 overall and 0-1 in league play.

The Crusaders seized control from the start, scoring the first four goals of the game in the opening 2:38, including two in the first 35 seconds. Belmont Abbey moved out to a 13-1 lead at the half as it outshot the Bobcats 20-4 in the opening half hour. The Crusaders finished with 40 shots on the afternoon.

Miller led all scorers with seven goals on nine shots, while Reese Gassie added a career-high four in just her third collegiate game. Miller has 15 goals on 22 shots to start her collegiate career. Katy Connery and Megan Patton both scored three, with two of Connery's goals representing the Abbey's first two of the game in the opening 35 seconds after she secured the first two draw controls. Shannin Darley and Rebecca Diggs both had a pair of goals, while Gina Colella and Elyse Mohn both had one. Lindsay Connolly handed out five assists to increase her season total to 14, while Darley and Gassie had one each. Belmont Abbey scored on all six of its free position shots, as three of Miller's seven strikes were from the eight meter spot.

Defensively, the Crusaders caused 12 turnovers as Gassie led the way with three, while Colella and Darley had two each. The Crusaders won the draw control battle by a commanding 21-7 count, including the first 11 to start the game. Connery led the way with six, while Colella had five and Alyssa Greco finished with five. Colella also led the way with nine ground balls and Gassie totaled eight as the Crusaders scooped up 45 on the day. Danielle Ruffalo stopped five shots, four in the second half.

Lees-McRae's goals were scored by Oliva Gudewich, who finished with two, and Katelin Rooney had the other.