CLEMSON, S.C. – No. 9/8 Clemson women’s lacrosse moved to 2-0 on Tuesday night with a 18-1 victory over Furman. The Tigers scored consistently throughout the game and led 9-1 at the end of the first half. After surrendering a goal in the opening period, the Clemson defense shut out the Paladins for the remainder of the game with the Tiger goalies recording five saves. The Tigers got huge offensive output from their freshmen, as the Clemson rookies were responsible for 11 total goals and 9 of 13 assists.
Clemson was paced offensively by freshman Alexa Spallina, who posted a team-high six goals and four assists while also recording seven shots. Regan Byrne added four goals on five shots, and Aubrie Eisfeld contributed with two goals on six shots. Emma Penczek finished with three goals on four shots and three ground controls. Additional scoring came from Anna Brown, Maddigan Miller and Natalie Shurtleff, who each scored once. Kayla Balis led Clemson with six draw controls, helping the Tigers control possession throughout the contest.
FIRST QUARTER | 3-1, CLEMSON
Penczek both controlled the opening draw and scored the game’s first goal for the Tigers. The freshman’s third career goal came at the 12:55 mark while Clemson was a woman up. Shurtleff gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead off of a feed from Brooke Goldstein, scoring her 59th career goal. Spallina extended the lead with her third-career goal. The Paladins answered with a free position goal from Lily Toole to cut the deficit to two.
SECOND QUARTER | 9-1, CLEMSON
Spallina opened the second period with three-consecutive goals, two from free position and one assisted by Marleigh O’Day. Miller scored her first goal as a Tiger to give Clemson a 7-1 advantage. Freshman Eisfield added her fourth score of the season off of a feed from Spallina.. Penczek scored her second goal of the game off of another Spallina assist to send Clemson into the locker room with a 9-1 lead. The Tigers tallied five shots on goal and were five-for-five on clear attempts in the second period.
HALFTIME INTERVIEW
THIRD QUARTER | 14-1, CLEMSON
Spallina wasted no time out of the break, adding her fifth goal just thirty seconds into the half. Penzcek scored her third goal of the game off of Spallina’s fourth assist. Another Spallina goal off of a free position gave her ten points for the game, extending the Tigers’ lead, 12-1. Byrne added her first two goals of the season to close the third period.
FOURTH QUARTER | 18-1, CLEMSON
Byrne continued to shine in the second half by adding her third goal of the game. Eisfield then added her second goal off of O’Day’s second assist. Anna Brown scored her second career goal from Beidget Babcock’s assist. Bryne added her fourth score of the game off of a feed from O’Day, her third assist of the night, the final goal of the game, and making the final score 18-1.
POSTGAME INTERVIEWS
STATS RECAP
UP NEXT
The Tigers continue their homestand this Saturday, Feb. 14 against No. 4 Stanford for a noon game at the Clemson Lacrosse Complex.
TICKETS
Fans can purchase women’s lacrosse tickets at ClemsonTigers.com/Tickets/.
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