Balanced Attack Powers Reinhardt Women’s Lacrosse Past Oglethorpe in Home Opener

Waleska, Ga. - Reinhardt University used a balanced scoring effort and steady goalkeeping to roll past Oglethorpe University 18-6 in the Eagles' home opener Saturday afternoon in Waleska, Ga. The Eagles scored at least three goals in every quarter and led 13-4 after three, then capped the dominant performance with a five-goal fourth quarter highlighted by a key save with just over two minutes remaining that helped seal the comfortable win.

Reinhardt (GA) methodically built its lead, outscoring Oglethorpe 3-2 in the first quarter, 5-2 in the second, and 5-1 in the third before matching that five-goal output in the final frame. The Eagles' offense was driven by three-goal performances from Emma Perritte and Ava Pieron, while playmaker Izzy Prestia added one goal and three assists to pace the attack. In total, Reinhardt finished with 18 goals on 35 shots, including 27 shots on goal, and posted nine assists on the day.

Perritte keyed the early momentum, opening the scoring at 12:06 of the first quarter off a feed from Hanna Peace. Peace followed with a free-position conversion to make it 2-0 before Oglethorpe broke through. After a first-quarter free-position goal by Mary Grace Lewis gave the Eagles a 3-1 edge, Oglethorpe closed the gap to 3-2 to end the opening quarter. Reinhardt responded with a decisive second-quarter surge, starting with back-to-back free-position goals by Hayley Rakestraw and Lewis to push the margin to 5-2. Goals by Carly Harris (assisted by Perritte) and Pieron (assisted by Prestia) extended the lead to 7-2 as the Eagles took control.

The third quarter showcased Reinhardt's depth. Prestia scored early in the frame off a pass from Lainey Byrne, then Perritte followed with a free-position goal and another strike assisted by Prestia to complete her hat trick and make it 11-4. Late in the quarter, goals from Lawna Henry (assisted by Perritte) and Miranda Petrillo stretched the advantage to 13-4 before Oglethorpe added a late tally. By the end of the third, the Eagles had firmly established a nine-goal cushion and held Oglethorpe to just one goal in the period.

Reinhardt closed the game with a strong fourth quarter, adding five more goals while continuing to limit Oglethorpe's chances. Byrne opened the frame at 14:00 with a goal off a setup from Lewis, and Pieron added her third of the day less than three minutes later. Henry and Jessica Lucas each found the net—Lucas on a free-position opportunity—before Jaylynn Recknagel capped the scoring with 35 seconds remaining on an assist from Lucas. Throughout the second half, the Eagles consistently generated high-quality looks, finishing with eight free-position attempts and converting multiple chances from the 8-meter arc.

Defensively, Reinhardt backed up the offensive output with an efficient effort in goal and in the ride. Goalkeeper Madison Hasty recorded five saves while allowing just six goals, and the Eagles pressured Oglethorpe into 19 turnovers and limited the visitors to 16 total shots. The key defensive moment came late in the fourth quarter at the 2:15 mark, when the Eagles' goalkeeper made a crucial save to protect the double-digit margin and snuff out any hope of a late Oglethorpe push. Reinhardt also finished 15-of-16 on clears and picked up 20 ground balls, helping tilt possession in its favor despite a 13-12 draw control edge for Oglethorpe.

Oglethorpe was led by Anna Ramsden, who scored twice, while Madelyn Gardner made nine saves in net. Still, the visitors were unable to match Reinhardt's depth and efficiency on both ends of the field. With multiple players contributing—Perritte's 3-goal, 2-assist line, Pieron's perfect 3-for-3 shooting, Prestia's four-point performance, and Lewis' two goals and one assist—the Eagles turned their home opener into a comprehensive victory and set a strong tone for the rest of the season.