HILTON HEAD, S.C. – Behind an impressive 13-2 first-half run, the Ursinus women's lacrosse team cruised to a 20-4 victory over Worcester State University on Wednesday morning in a Saint Patrick's Day Showdown.
 
With the victory, Ursinus improved to 5-3 on the season, while the Lancers fell to 4-2. Senior Ashley Noto paced the Bears' offense, finishing with a team-high seven points behind five goals and two assists. Sophomore Devin Buggy scored a career-high four goals, marking her fifth game this season with two or more goals.
 
Junior Dana DeSiato tallied her seventh game with three or more assists, dishing out five and adding a goal to finish with six points. Classmate Jaime Michaud recorded three points off two goals and an assist while earning a team-high four ground balls. Senior defender Abby Burkholder led the team with three caused turnovers, while senior Meghan Vizian finished with a team-best five draw controls.
 
The Bears jumped out to a quick start, outscoring Worcester State 8-1 in the first period before a 5-1 run in the second quarter gave Ursinus a 13-2 halftime lead. Junior Whitney Hershey grabbed the momentum from the start, scoring at the 14:20 mark before Noto's first goal gave Ursinus a two-goal advantage with 11:23 remaining in the first period. Next, first-year Gabrielle Eaise netted her second career goal before back-to-back goals by Buggy gave Ursinus a 5-0 lead with 6:16 remaining in the quarter.
 
Sophomore Jeremi Morrison pushed the Bears' lead to six at the 6:02 mark, while Noto and Michaud each scored to give Ursinus an 8-1 lead entering the second stanza. Vizian tallied her lone goal to open the second at the 10:19 mark before Buggy connected for her third goal with 9:17 remaining to give Ursinus a 10-1 advantage. Next, Noto closed out the first half with two goals, while senior Skyler Bogdan added her first goal to give Ursinus a 13-2 halftime lead.
 
Ursinus carried the momentum into the second half as Buggy connected on her fourth goal, while Michaud netted her second score to push the Bears' lead to 15-2 with 6:50 remaining in the quarter. Junior Ryann Buchner scored her first goal of the game and seventh of the season at the 3:00 mark, while a Lancers goal closed out the period with Ursinus leading 16-3. Hershey, Noto, DeSiato and sophomore Abby Cooney each scored for the Bears in the final period as Ursinus secured the 20-4 victory.
 
First-year Addi Guthrie-Pimpinella earned the victory in goal for Ursinus, tallying nine saves over 45 minutes of play. Worcester State's Cadence Oleniak suffered the loss, recording 15 saves, while Molly Witkowski led the Lancers with two goals.
 
The Bears will return to action on Saturday, March 21, as they open Centennial Conference play on the road at Haverford College at noon.