HOUGHTON, N.Y. – As much as the women's lacrosse team was battling Houghton College on the field, the Hilbert College Hawks were fighting the mental game of playing a contest under the lights on a 2014 typically cold end-of-March night in Western New York.   Kelly Mandell scored her first goal this season to put the Hawks on the score board, but that wasn't enough to make this a competitive game early on.

Jennifer Zacchigna led the hosts with five goals and three assists while Chandler Jones totalled nine points off three goals and six assists. Kelsie Ashley was credited with seven ground balls and Amanda Zacchigna earned a game-high eight draw controls (four goals).

Stephanie Glaza made 14 saves in goal (41:58) for Hilbert and led the Hawks with a team-high four ground balls.  Robbi Bailey picked up three ground balls and earned a team high four draw controls.  Jordan Botsford and Meghan Stewart (18:02 two saves, three goals) were the only Hawks to not be charged with a turnover.

Houghton College turned up their offensive firepower early in the game and kept it going for the full 30-minute first half.  With a 15-3 half time score, the Highlanders cooled off in the second period but still outscored the Hawks 8-1, with the only miscue counted as an 'own-goal' when their goal keeper mis-handled a save.

Houghton opened with a tallie only forty-nine seconds into the game with their second score less than one minute later.  The Highlanders scored three more times before Kelly Mandell and Kelly Hagenbuch hit back-to-back goals over a four minute span.  Houghton consistently attacked the frame adding seven more scores (12-2) with 9:17 remaining.  Megan Smith answered the call when she raced down the field and beat their keeper for Hilbert's last goal before the break.

After spending the full intermission indoors to warm-up, the Highlanders returned to full form and in the first nine minutes of the second half, they posted four more goals to their total.  Olivia Tom's shot at 9:42 was stopped by the Highlander goalie, but her stick movement allowed the ball to roll out and over the goal line which gave the Hawks a TEAM goal.

The hosts outshot Hilbert 49-5 and held a 39-5 shots-on-goal advantage.  The Hawks committed 36 turnovers, twice as many as Houghton and were credited with 18 ground balls. 

Hilbert returns to action this week when they travel to Baldwin Wallace March 28 for another night game under the lights.  Follow their game  live  with a 7:30 start.