READING, Pa. – A strong first half lifted the Ursinus College women's lacrosse team to an 18-5 victory over Alvernia University on Wednesday evening.
 
 
With the win, Ursinus improves to 4-4 on the season, earning its third straight victory, while the Golden Wolves fall to 1-6 overall. Senior Maeve Leonzi recorded her 13th goal over the Bears' three-game winning streak, tallying four goals on five shots. Sophomore Dana DeSiato paced the Ursinus offense, tying her career high, and leading the team with seven points, including two goals and five assists.  
 
 
DeSiato continues to orchestrate the Bears' offense, recording 16 assists over the last three contests and totaling 20 points during the winning streak. First-year Abby Cooney added her first two collegiate goals, an assist, and secured two ground balls. Junior Ashley Noto, Cooney, sophomores Brynn Bastian-Pastore, and Jaime Michaud each collected two goals apiece.
 
 
Ursinus grabbed an early 1-0 lead as junior Meghan Vizian secured the opening draw control, before Leonzi recorded her first goal of the game off an assist from DeSiato at the 14:41-mark. The Bears kept the offensive pressure on the Golden Wolves, extending their advantage to 4-0 with 10:59 remaining in the first period. Noto, senior Grace Lynch, and DeSiato each added goals during the 3-0 run. After an Alvernia goal, Ursinus closed out the period on a 2-0 run, behind goals from senior Sarah Child and Bastian-Pastore, to take a 6-1 lead into the second stanza.
 
 
The Bears carried the momentum into the second period as Leonzi and Cooney added scores to stretch the lead to 8-1. On a counterattack, Noto forced a defender out of position, before finding Leonzi, who wrapped around the net for the score. On a free-position attempt, DeSiato passed to Conney in front of the net for her first goal of the game. Alvernia answered with back-to-back goals, but Ursinus closed out the first half with scores from Michaud and DeSiato, taking an 11-3 halftime lead.
 

The Bears opened the second half with three straight goals to extend their advantage to 14-3 with 10:49 remaining in the period. Leonzi, Noto, and senior Julia McCann each netted goals for the Bears during the 3-0 run. Bastian-Pastore scored the final goal of the period, while three saves from first-year goalie Allison McAnally kept the Bears' lead at 15-3 heading into the final period. Cooney, Michaud, and sophomore Whitney Hershey each scored in the final period, while the Bears' defense stifled the Golden Wolves' offense en route to the 18-5 victory.
 
  
Ursinus held a 29-18 advantage in shots, an 18-9 lead in draw controls, with Alvernia holding a 15-13 edge in ground balls. The Bears converted on 80% (12-of-15) of their clear attempts, with Alvernia supporting a clear percentage of 78.5% (11-of-14). In goal, McAnally earned her second career victory behind a career best eight saves in 51 minutes of action. Meanwhile, Alvernia's Hannah Wolfe suffered the loss, saving just three shots in 45 minutes of play.
 
 
The Bears return to action on Saturday, March 22nd as they host No. 23 Haverford College in their Centennial Conference opener at noon.