MONTREAT, N.C.— The Montreat women's lacrosse team hosted the Truett McConnell University Bears Wednesday night as part of the squad's 2023 home and Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) opener. Playing shorthanded with only 10 athletes, the Cavaliers dominated the Bears to the tune of a 19-5 victory, grabbing their first triumph of the season and improving to 1-2 (1-0 AAC) in the process.
 
From the opening draw control, the Cavs facilitated the game's flow. Kate Gauntlett scored on a free position attempt just 53 seconds into the contest, the first of 11 Montreat goals in the period. Both Gauntlett (four goals) and Aleea Bone (three goals) registered hat tricks in the quarter, with Bone recording all three of her tallies in a 2:30 span. Truett McConnell notched its lone goal of the frame to make the score 2-1 with just over 12 minutes remaining, but the Cavaliers scored the final nine goals of the quarter to own an 11-1 lead after 15 minutes of action.
 
With a running clock in the second quarter, Montreat continued to command the contest, outscoring the Bears 4-0 in the frame. Mina Hicks' sixth goal of the season opened the scoring 79 seconds into the period, while Dovie Yates became the third Cavalier of the night to attain a hat trick with her tally just under two minutes later. Gauntlett tacked on her fifth and sixth goals of the half over the final 9:03 as the hosts entered the break with a 15-1 lead.
 
At halftime, Montreat held considerable advantages in shots (24-7), shots on goal (19-3) and caused turnovers (9-1). While TMU won more draw controls in the initial half (10-8), the Cavs converted on all four of their free-position tries and nine of their 10 clear attempts.
 
Truett McConnell (0-4, 0-1 AAC) notched the initial tally of the second half, making it a 15-2 contest just under five minutes into the third quarter; however, Bone and Gauntlett added their fourth and seventh goals of the night, respectively, to ensure that the Cavaliers won the quarter. Entering the final period, the hosts possessed a 15-goal edge (17-2).
 
Bone handed the Cavs their largest lead of the night at 18-2 with only 11:35 left in regulation. Meanwhile, McKinley Edmondson wrapped up Montreat's scoring Wednesday night with her first goal of the season. In the end, Montreat had no trouble seeing out a 19-5 victory, its first triumph of the season.
 
As a team, Montreat finished the day with significant edges in shots (32-19), shots on goal (26-11), groundballs (23-9) and caused turnovers (15-3). The hosts also registered successful clearances on 14 of its 15 tries.
Gauntlett paced all athletes with seven goals, five assists and six groundballs. Bone tallied five goals and an assist, while Yates scored three times on just four shot attempts. Kierra Stephens led the Cavaliers in net with six saves and a .545 save percentage.
 
The Montreat women's lacrosse team heads back on the road this Saturday for an AAC matchup at Tennessee Wesleyan University. Opening draw is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. in Athens, Tenn.