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In a game that wrapped up under the lights at Valley Fields, Marquette women's lacrosse picked up their first win of the 2016 season by thrashing California, 15-4.
Marquette was led by a pair of hat tricks from junior Amanda Bochniak and freshman Grace Gabriel. Bochniak also tallied MU's only three assists of the game to finish with six points, tying her career best. All told, eight different players found the back of the net.
The Golden Eagles didn't just take it to the Golden Bears in goals, they dominated the game in possession, too. Marquette outshot Cal, 37-11, including a ridiculous 23-4 margin in the first half and a healthy doubling up of 14-7 after the break. The MU defense did their part to ensure that shooting margin, causing 14 of California's 23 turnovers in the game.
Bochniak opened up the scoring in the game, and Hayley Baas extended her career goals record before five minutes wound off the clock. Cal's Meredith Haggerty ended the shutout at the 23:45 mark, but that was it for the Bears in the first half. Marquette scored five more times before the half ended on goals from five different players, including what would turn into the game winner from Bochniak. The run was capped off by Cate Soccodato racking home a feed from Bochniak with nine seconds left.
Cal broke the ice on the second half on a goal from Elizabeth Pellechi 90 seconds into the period, but MU responded with Allison Lane's second of the match and the first goal from Julianna Shearer. Cal cut that run off before it got going with their third marker of the game, but Marquette got the next three to make it 12-3 with 10 minutes left. The real back breaker there was Bochniak and Gabriel scoring 26 seconds apart to take it from a 9-3 game with 18 to play to 11-3 with 17 to go.
Up Next: Marquette stays home in the Valley for a second game this weekend. They'll take on Colorado on Sunday afternoon at 1pm, and the first 50 students in attendance get a free MU fleece blanket. The Buffaloes are 2-1 on the season after suffering a 14-4 setback to #6 Notre Dame on Friday night. Colorado defeated Marquette 13-5 in Boulder in 2015.