ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – With a record-breaking effort from first-year Lizzie Schrubbe, plus strong defense in the second half, the College of Saint Benedict lacrosse team (7-3, 4-0 MLC) ran its winning streak to six games by rallying for a 15-13 victory over Hamline (7-8, 4-0, MLC) in a home Midwest Lacrosse Conference contest on Wednesday (April 24).

With the victory, CSB is now 4-0 in the MLC and clinched one of the top two spots in the league and at least one home game in the playoffs. CSB, which moved to 7-3 overall, moved into a first-place tie with Lake Forest (12-2, 4-0) in the conference. The two conference leaders will meet on Saturday, April 27 at 1 p.m., in Lake Forest, Ill.

In its time in the MLC, CSB has now gone 11-0 in regular season conference play. The Bennies ran their series record to 3-0 against Hamline, including 2-0 this year. Earlier in St. Paul, CSB took a 16-6 win.   

Schrubbe set a pair of program game records with 12 points and 11 assists. The first-year attacker, who also had a goal, had set the game points mark of 10 in a 23-3 win over Augsburg and had six assists in a win against Northwestern. Sophomore Sami Hackley led CSB with six goals as she now has 19 career multi-goal performances, and pushed her season totals to 39 goals and 45 points. Also reaching multiple goals was first-year Emma Nelson with her third hat trick (three goals) of the season, junior Emma Osland and sophomore Grace Fitzgibbons, who each had two goals. First-year Emma Halweg also tallied a goal. Osland now has 17 goals this year and her 15^th career multi-goal game (seventh this year). Reigning MLC Defensive Player of the Week Chloe Lewis had 10 saves as she moved to 7-2-0 on the season.

"It was a hard-fought game today, but we were able to tough one out today," said CSB head coach Patrick Crandall.  "Lizzie (Schrubbe) had a great ability to find the open players. Sami (Hackley) was able to work free and get us going on the offensive end. The players had to really work to keep on the winning side. We really didn't flow today but were able to grit out a win," he added.

In the closely-contest win, Crandall credited Hamline for a strong performance and his own team for finding a way to win.

"Sometimes if things aren't working the way we are used to you have to find other ways together the win. Emma (Halweg) did that today in taking the draw. We were having some difficulty with the draw and Emma stepped up and took in that role today.  Emma (Osland) and Grace (Fitzgibbons) did their usual work in the midfield playing the entire game and pushing through a lot of up and back play through the midfield. Emma (Nelson) put together another premier performance with the hat trick and timely possession," he said.
 

Game Summary
After Hamline took a 2-0 lead, Schrubbe and Hackley led CSB to a 6-5 lead after one quarter. But the Pipers had a 5-4 advantage in the second quarter as the team battled to a 10-10 tie at halftime. St. Bens had a 4-3 edge in the third quarter and 1-0 margin in the fourth quarter for a 5-3 advantage in the second half to earn the fourth league win in as many opportunities.

With a 29-to-17 margin of shots in the first half, CSB ended with a 45-to-34 margin for the game. Both teams committed 14 turnovers while CSB was 15-of-15 on clears and held a 19-to-18 edge in ground balls and 18-to-12 margin in draw controls.

After Hamline took a 2-0 lead, Hackley (10:35) Emma Nelson (10:11) and Fitzgibbons (9:27) had goals as CSB took a 3-2 lead. After Hamline tied it with an Avery Wilson goal, Hackley (6:39, 4:27, 4:05) had three more goals for a 6-4 lead.

In the second quarter, Osland (9:59), Fitzgibbons (6:40), Hackley (6:11) and Schrubbe (4:59) had goals for a 10-7 lead with about five minutes to play. But the Pipers answered with three straight goals to tie the game at 10-10.

But after trailing early in the first quarter, CSB never trailed again. In the third quarter, Nelson (14:23) gave CSB an 11-10 lead. Hackley (12:34) and Nelson (8:34) added goals as CSB led, 13-11. Hamline responded with goals from Maddie Swanson (5:43) and Maitland Luksan (4:30) to draw even. However, Halweg (2:56), off an assist from Schrubbe, gave the Bennies a 14-13 lead. And, CSB closed out the scoring as Osland (4:35) had a goal for a 15-13 lead and, with the defense allowing just three second half goals, earned the win.