For more than a year the Trojans have been waiting for Thursday. They were going to wait no more. Michelle Scannell scored the first goal in program history and teammate Riann Daziel added a game-high four goals as Mount Olive defeated Chowan 17-2 in a non-conference women's lacrosse game Thursday afternoon at Amon Field.
The match was the first in program history for both schools. After building up enthusiasm for the first game since the announcement of the program's launch last spring, not even a brisk wind and a constant rain could stop a relentless Trojan attack that outshot the Hawks 31-6.
"I was really exuberating to finally get to play a real game," said Trojan midfielder Michelle Scannell who transferred to Mount Olive from Tennessee Wesleyan. "We have been waiting for this for a long time."
Scannell delivered the opening salvo for Mount Olive less than four minutes into the first period when she blasted a shot past Hawk goalkeeper Haley Haggard on a free position shot. Less than two minutes later, Scannell struck again, this time on an assist by Kara Lyon.
Mount Olive features several players with collegiate experience prior to this season. Thursday, they looked like an experienced crew, showing patience and getting shots near the keeper's circle time and time again.
By the end of the game, 10 different Trojans found the back of the net. Lyon and Alysha Kulka scored two goals apiece, while Allie Dunn, Alex Crawford, Caitlin Sabadish, Candace Corkin, Maddy Biggar and Heather Cockburn added one apiece.
"The weather didn't bother us," said Scannell, who recorded the Trojans' first hat trick when she struck a third time with 11:02 left in the first. Daziel joined her three minutes into the second period. "I'm from Florida, so I'm not used to this, but we just went out there and pushed it."
The Trojans took a 12-0 cushion into intermission, then Biggar turned away any thoughts of a comeback attempt less than two minutes into the second. It was 15-0 when the Hawks scored their first goal, on a blast in close by Andriea Herndon.
Defensively, Trojan goalkeeper Sarah Snell turned away three shots on goal. Mount Olive also dominated when it came to loose-ball opportunities. Lyon recorded a game-high six of her team's 19 ground balls. Mount Olive also forced Chowan into 24 turnovers.
Mount Olive will look for its second win of the season when the Trojans host Lenoir-Rhyne February 16.