ST. LOUIS  – Paige Murphy fired in six goals and Gianna Guzek made a season-high 12 saves as the No. 4 Maryville women's lacrosse team took down No. 21 Grand Valley State 15-6. Natalie Tomljenovic had three goals and two assists, Helen Bae recorded a hat trick, while Mady Richert picked up three assists.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Murphy gave the Saints the quick lead as she collected a pass from Mady Richert and found the back of net just 2:07 into the game. A minute later, Murphy doubled the lead off a feed from Natalie Tomljenovic. Kylie Pettus recorded back-to-back goals just over a minute apart as the Maryville lead ballooned to 4-0. GVSU scored its first goal but Murphy finished off her hat trick to end the first for a 5-1 lead.
 
The Lakers opened the second with a score but the Saints responded with three straight goals. Helen Bae took advantage of a player-up situation, and Tomljenovic scored her first of the day. Murphy pushed the edge to 8-2 as Maryville took an 8-3 edge into the break.
 
Bae notched her second goal of the day, and Murphy followed as Maryville's goal total reached double digits. The Lakers scored twice and closed to 11-5 early in the fourth. However, the Saints put the game out of reach with four consecutive goals, capped by a score from Libby Knapp. Guzek stopped four free-position shots by GVSU to key the defense.
 
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Goals: Paige Murphy - 6
Assists: Mady Richert - 3
Points: Paige Murphy - 6
Ground Balls: Gianna Guzek - 6
Caused Turnovers: Dorothy Fife - 3
Draw Controls: Paige Murphy - 6
Saves: Gianna Guzek - 12
 
RECORDS
No. 4 Maryville: 5-0
No. 21 Grand Valley State: 0-4
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Saints are back in action Tuesday, March 10, as Ashland comes to town for a Noon start at Maryville Athletic Center.