Women's Lacrosse Rolls Past Butler, 20-4

Thursday, February 22

Indianapolis, IN

2 p.m.

University of Louisville

3-1

Butler

0-2

Louisville

Butler

February 22, 2018 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Alex McNicholas and Caroline Blalock led the way with four goals each.

By: Nick Evans

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Alex McNicholas and Caroline Blalock finished with four goals each and the defense pitched a second half shutout as Louisville women's lacrosse rolled past Butler, 20-4, on Thursday afternoon.

With the win, the Cards improve to 3-1 on the season.

"We've been trying to get them to compete all week and we competed today, we didn't take care of the ball the way we'd like to, especially in the first half, but we competed," said head coach Scott Teeter. "We challenged them again at halftime to put it all together and the second half was better than the first."

Louisville scored the first six goals of the game to open up a 6-0 lead with just over 15 minutes to go in the first half. The first goal was by Lexi Arens, then Lexi Cheetham, Maddie Birch, McNicholas, Blalock and Tessa Chad all followed to build the early six-point advantage.

The Cardinals jumped out to a 9-1 lead on McNicholas' third goal of the game, but Butler then scored three of the final four goals of the half as UofL entered the locker room with a 10-4 lead.

In the second stanza, the Louisville defense clamped down as they held Butler scoreless for the entire 30 minutes.

Lexie Ball finished the game with nine saves on 13 shots, good for a .692 save percentage.

McNicholas led the way with four goals, two assists, four draw controls and four groundballs. Blalock finished with four goals and an assist.

Overall, nine players scored for the Cardinals, as Tessa Chad, Sarah Blalock, Cheetham and Arens all finished with two or more goals.

The Cardinals return to action on Saturday afternoon at noon when they host Coastal Carolina.