LAKE WALES, Fla. - The Malone University women's lacrosse team continued to have success in the sunshine state with a 12-6 triumph over Warner University, a team receiving votes in the NAIA national poll. The Pioneers are now 5-1 overall and the Royals fall to 4-5.
 
Malone outscored their opponent in all four quarters, with the first being the most lopsided at 4-1. Meg Ridgway scored on a man-up opportunity less than two minutes into the contest. Alana Samek, Ashtyn Praeter and Olivia Marcantonio found the back of the net in the final eight minutes of the quarter to put the Pioneers in front early. The same trio of Samek, Praeter and Marcantonio were responsible for the team's three second quarter goals to go into halftime ahead 7-3.
 
Two newcomers to the scoring column in Cam English and Emma Weintz extended the Malone lead to 9-3 in the third quarter. The defense by the Pioneers kept Warner from scoring for 18 minutes of gametime between the end of the second and most of the third quarters. The Royals netted one just before the end of the period to make the score 9-4 in favor of the visitors. Malone had built enough of a lead to lock down the victory by a final total of 12-6. Ridgway, Weintz and Praeter added to their scoring totals in the fourth.
 
As a team, the Pioneers outshot Warner 33-18. 25 of Malone's 33 attempts were on-goal as they carved up the interior of the Royal defense. The Pioneers grabbed 13 draw controls compared to Warner's seven.
 
Ridgway led the team in points with two goals and three assists on the night. Abbey Burns brought in a team-high five draw controls and secured the most groundballs with four. Sarah Bricker caused three turnovers to pace the squad. Sydney Atkinson (5-1) made six saves in net.
 
Malone is back in action on Friday, March 13 against New College of Florida. That matchup is set to begin at 3:00 P.M.