BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C.— After capturing its first win of the season in its Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) opener Wednesday night, the Montreat women's lacrosse team continued its winning ways with a 23-8 victory over the Tennessee Wesleyan University Bulldogs Saturday afternoon at Pulliam Stadium. Thanks to their best offensive showing of the season, the Cavaliers' record now stands at 2-5 (2-0 AAC).
 
Tennessee Wesleyan (1-7, 0-2 AAC) took a 1-0 lead with the game's opening goal 22 seconds in, but the Cavs rattled off the ensuing seven tallies and 12 of the following 13 goals to maintain a 12-2 lead through 15 minutes of action. Grace Wiegand (four goals) and Madison Terrell (three goals) registered hat tricks in the first quarter alone, while Kate Gauntlett contributed a pair of goals and assists.
 
Like they did in the first frame, the Bulldogs notched the second quarter's initial strike, trimming the gap to 12-3; however, Kate Gauntlett's 300^th career point and third score of the afternoon restored the hosts' 10-goal edge with 11:09 left in the half. McKinley Edmondson and Gauntlett later grew the lead to 12 before TWU brought the score to 15-4 shortly before halftime.
 
Not only did Montreat own the first 30 minutes on the scoreboard, but it also dominated the stat sheet. The Cavaliers possessed significant advantages in shots (20-8), shots on goal (18-7), draw controls (16-5) free position goals (3-0) and ground balls (10-9) at the intermission. Chloe Andrews totaled three saves during the initial half.
 
Both teams deposited four shots into their opposition's net during the third quarter, with the Bulldogs rattling off three straight to open the frame. The hosts answered with four of the next five tallies, though, as Wiegand, Hannah Jarboe, Terrell and Gauntlett ensured the Cavs entered the final period with a comfortable 19-8 edge.
 
Montreat held TWU scoreless in the fourth while racking up four goals of its own to secure the victory. Edmondson, who captured the first hat trick of her career in the fourth, became the fifth Cavalier of the day to accrue at least three goals. As a result, the home team scored a season-high 23 times on its way to a one-sided 23-8 AAC triumph.
 
"Today was a great display of working as a team," said head coach Kayla Bone. "Grace set the tone early from the first draw control, and we carried that throughout the game. Our effort and energy were there the entire contest."
 
The Cavs nearly doubled up Tennessee Wesleyan in shots (33-18), shots on goal (29-15) and draw controls (22-12), and they also owned advantages in free position scores (6-0), successful clears (12-11) and ground balls (16-14).
 
Wiegand led all players with a career-best six goals, while Terrell tallied a game-best nine points (5G, 4A). Gauntlett (5), Jarboe (4) and Edmondson (3) each scored at least three times on the afternoon. Andrews made seven saves as she improved to 2-1 on the year.
 
The Montreat women's lacrosse team returns to Pulliam Stadium next Saturday for a conference contest versus the No. 2-ranked Reinhardt University Eagles. Opening draw control is slated for 1 p.m. in Black Mountain, N.C.