Penke Earns Hat Trick in Loss to MBU

ST. LOUIS, MO. – The Eutectic women's lacrosse team travelled across town to take on Missouri Baptist University for a Heart of America Athletic Conference (HEART) matchup on Thursday afternoon. UHSP's Ella Penke recorded a hat trick to lead the Eutectics. But, the MBU Spartans (6-4, 1-0 HEART), who are currently ranked 11^th in the NAIA in the latest Coaches' Poll, came away with a 16-4 victory over the Eutectics.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

MBU 16, UHSP 4

• The first quarter was dominated by MBU offense, who won seven of eight draw controls and took a seven-point lead with 12 shots.
• The Spartans continued their barrage on the Eutectic goal, taking another 12 shots in the second period, but UHSP goalkeeper Brianna Dixon made six saves in the quarter to hold the MBU squad to three goals.
• The Eutectics' Ella Penke scored an unassisted goal (man-up) in the final second of the first half to put the Eutectics on the board. The halftime score was 10-1.
• After an early goal by the Spartans in the second half, Penke scored her second goal of the day on a free position shot at 9:01 in the third quarter. Five-and-a-half minutes later, Penke would make that a hat trick with another free position shot – this time on a power play.
• The Eutectic defense held the Spartans to that one early shot in third quarter, while the UHSP offense took seven shots. The score was 11-3 heading into the final period.
• UHSP maintained the momentum into the fourth quarter as Michelle Le scored an unassisted goal just 12 seconds in, making it 11-4. The Spartans, however, soon  returned to form, taking 12 shots in the quarter and converting on five of those to eventually earn the 10-point-lead running clock and finish with a winning score of 16-4.      
• Ella Penke put three of her five shots on goal past the MBU goalkeeper and accounted for six of the UHSP team's 14 shots in the game. Josie Hayden earned three draw controls, two ground balls, and one caused turnover. Goalkeeper Brianna Dixon made 12 saves on 28 MBU shots on goal.

NEXT UP:

The Eutectics are now 2-6 overall and 1-2 in the Conference. Next up for the Eutectics is a trip to Kansas to take on the Ottawa University Braves (1-7, 1-1 HEART) on Saturday, April 11 for a HEART matchup at 1 p.m.