MIDDLETOWN, Conn. -- Wesleyan junior Lydia Kring netted a hat trick and five other players scored two goals each as Wesleyan University earned a 18-10 win over Howard University in women's lacrosse action Tuesday afternoon. Howard was led on the scoresheet by sophomore Courtland Lackey, who tallied five goals to raise her team-leading total to 21. Wesleyan improved to 5-6 with the victory, while Howard now stands 0-7.

The Bison jumped on the scoreboard first on an early tally by junior Jillian Parker. Parker's low bouncer found the back of the net with 4:15 gone to give the Bison a 1-0 lead. Senior Liz Chabot answered for Wesleyan just 12 seconds later, tucking a bouncer inside the right post after Wesleyan controlled the draw to even the score. Kring then added a pair of tallies 1:09 apart to give Wesleyan a 3-1 lead it would not relinquish at 19:18.

The teams traded goals, giving Wesleyan a 5-3 lead with 13:59 left in the half. Wesleyan then scored six of the next seven goals for an 11-4 halftime lead. Howard opened the second half on a run of its own, scoring three of the first four goals, including a tally 32 seconds into the period, to cut its deficit to 12-7 with 22:12 to play. Catherine Taibi scored with 15:23 left to give Wesleyan a 13-7 lead, sparking a four-goal Cardinal run that gave the home team a 16-7 lead at the 7:40 mark.

Lackey broke the Wesleyan run with a free-position goal at 7:19. Following a tally by Wesleyan freshman Daphne Kroessler with 3:27 to play, Smalls scored on a pair of free-position shots 22 seconds apart for a 17-10 score with 1:29 remaining. Michele Drossner concluded the scoring with 1:16 to go for the 18-10 final.

Smalls had a hat trick and an assist for Howard to raise her point total on the season to 21, as she ranks second on the team in scoring behind Lackey (22 points). All six Howard goals in the second half came on free-position shots.

Mackenzie McPike (Barrington, Ill.) had six saves for Wesleyan. Howard senior Ashley Foote tallied 13 stops, as Wesleyan held a 39-22 edge in shots.

Howard hits the field again on Friday, hosting High Point.

-Courtesy Wesleyan Media Relations