The Wilkes University Colonels hosted the Elizabethtown College Blue Jays in a Landmark Conference contest between the two sides over the weekend. Wikes came into the contest searching for their first in-conference victory this season with a 0-5 record, while the Blue Jays wanted to improve their playoff position, sitting at 2-3 at the brink of playoff contention.
Etown started off slow but was able to rack up the goals quickly and effectively as sophomore Hailey Meyer scored a hat trick in a little over three minutes to lead the Blue Jays to a 4-0 lead halfway through the first quarter. Meyer added her fourth in the first quarter as the Blue Jays continued to surge to a 8-1 lead at the end of the first quarter. Meyer was accompanied by two goals by senior Drew Bridges, a goal from her sister, graduate Megan Meyer, and a goal from first-year Alyssa Golombeck.
Etown continued pouring on the goals in the second quarter, with junior Abby Bach collecting her first goal of the game 18 seconds into the quarter. The Blue Jays’ scoring began to cool down slightly, but not enough for the Colonels to make a comeback, as sophomore Ella Scholes added a hat trick as the Blue Jays took an 11 goal into the halftime break with a score of 15-4.
Wilkes found the back of the net first in the second half, scoring three minutes into the third quarter. Scholes rebutted the Colonels, scoring her fourth goal of the game. Hailey Meyer and Bridges both added one more as the Blue Jays headed into the final 15 minutes of play with a score of 18-6.
Despite being up by 12 goals, Bridges took matters into her own hands, scoring a hat trick in the fourth quarter alone, adding to her total in the afternoon and eclipsing the 100 career goal mark. Etown took care of business, defeating the Colonels with a final score of 22-7.
Hailey Meyer was the star of the show, scoring eight goals and assisting one, leading the team with nine points. Bridges added six goals of her own and Scholes had four goals and one assist. Bach and Megan Meyer both led the team in assists with three each. First-year Alyssa Conner picked up the win, playing three quarters and saving one shot. Sophomore Peyton Walters came in and picked up a save in one quarter of action.
The Blue Jays moved to 8-5 on the season and 3-3 in the Landmark Conference, moving to sixth in the conference standings. Etown will face off against the fifth seeded Drew University in their final home regular season game on April 15. The Blue Jays will play their final regular season game on April 22 against Moravian University on the road.
