ELMHURST, Ill. - In an excellent bounce back win, the Carthage Firebirds women's lacrosse team took down the Elmhurst Bluejays on their home turf 24-0 behind an impressively-balanced offensive attack. 11 different Firebirds scored goals in the win, including a pair of athletes that scored the first goals of their careers - Hannah Kim and Alessandra Almendarez. 

Carthage took 41 more shots than Elmhurst, allowing only four shots from the Bluejays. The Firebirds also won 14 more draw controls in the win and went 9-10 on clear attempts. 



 

• Final score: Carthage 24, Elmhurst 0
• Location: Langhorst Field - Elmhurst, Illinois
• Records: Carthage 9-6 (2-2 CCIW), Elmhurst 0-10 (0-4 CCIW) 

 

• Carthage scored the game's first three goals to go up 3-0 early, doing so in less than three minutes. The Firebirds closed the opening period with another trio of conversions to take a commanding 6-0 lead at Langhorst Field. The six goals were spread among five Firebirds, highlighting the team's effort to spread the wealth early on. 
• The second period started in a similar fashion to the first, with Carthage striking early and often. A goal from Shannon Heitschmidt opened the scoring before four more conversions in the span of three minutes put the Firebirds ahead 11-0. 
• Kyleigh Higgins netted one and was promptly followed by a goal from the heating-up Amber Moser, who has now scored four goals in her last two games played. Carthage went into the locker room with a firm 13-0 advantage. 
• LeFevre, Harris, and Berni opened up the scoring in the second half and were followed by a free position goal from first-year student-athlete Hannah Kim - the first of her career. Another goal from Berni put the Firebirds in front by 18 with one period remaining. 
• Harris and Heitschmidt found the back of the net to push Carthage's lead to 20 before another goal for Moser added to the visitor's lead. 
• In incredible fashion, and much to the delight of the contingent of Firebird fans that made the trip down to Langhorst field, starting goalkeeper Alessandra Almendarez scored the first goal of her brilliant career. 
• Elizabeth Oda and Piper LeFevre scored the final two goals of the morning, finalizing Carthage's dominant 24-0 victory on the road. 

 

• The offense as a whole was sensational, as 11 different Firebirds scored en route to Carthage's best offensive output of the season to date. Elizabeth Oda and Piper LeFevre tied for the team lead in goals with four, while Rachel Harris, Maddie Berni, and Shannon Heitschmidt each scored three times. Senior Amber Moser added a pair of goals as well. 
• Scoring for the first times in their respective careers, Alessandra Almendarez and Hannah Kim made an impact for Carthage. Emma McDonald also scored her second goal of the season in the win. 
• Kyleigh Higgins once again led the team in assists, aiding three teammates on their goals. Higgins also scored a goal and registered four draw controls. 
• Piper LeFevre led the team in both points (six) and draw controls (six), and tied for the team lead in ground balls (two). 
• Alessandra Almendarez and Theresa Carpentier combined to shutout the Bluejays, with plenty of help from the defenders in front of them. 

"Really proud of how this group responded after a tough loss earlier in the week," remarked today's acting assistant women's lacrosse coach David Budzisz. 

"We understood the game plan going in and executed it super well. Winning on the road is a hard thing to do in collegiate athletics regardless of where you play."

"Always a fun one when you can get everyone involved!"



 

• Carthage will take on another CCIW school located not too far from Elmhurst, as the Firebirds will travel to Naperville to take on North Central College on Tuesday, April 25 at 7:00 p.m.