Wigler matches single-game record in UMO lacrosse win

By Allen Etzler
Published in Sports on February 7, 2015 11:36 PM

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aetzler@newsargus.com

MOUNT OLIVE -- Claire Wigler is quickly making her presence felt on the University of Mount Olive campus.

The junior transfer from Onondaga (N.Y.) Community College tied a school record Saturday with six goals to give the Trojans to a 22-1 "welcoming present win" against Conference Carolinas newcomer Emmanuel.

Wigler has nine of the Trojans' 40 goals this season.

"It's huge to come here and make an impact this early on," Wigler said. "Being a junior I had to come in and learn my role quickly and I've been able to do that. It's exciting."

Wigler took less than two minutes to score the first goal and from there the Trojans rolled. They found the net 15 times in the first half, and Emmanuel didn't even get the ball across midfield until more than four minutes into the game.

Almost immediately after Emmanuel crossed midfield with the ball, the Trojans stole it and passed it upfield where Wigler tucked away her third goal of the game. She had a shot for number seven from about 20 feet away, but the ball sailed over the crossbar.

"I thought it was going in," Wigler said. "But I guess it was a little high."

Emmanuel didn't attempt a shot on goal until five minutes remained in the second half. They registered three shots on goal in 45 seconds, but Mount Olive goalie Sarah Snell stopped all three attempts.

"We don't worry about the defense," UMO coach Grant Kelam said. "That's been the strength of our team all season and the offense has kind of been playing catch up. So it was good that our offense was able to execute pretty well today. But our defense is always ready."

Mount Olive's Katie McGovern consistently controlled the ball off the draw for the Trojans, allowing them to set up the offense -- run through plays and move the ball.

"That's huge to get the ball off the draw because winning the draw is basically a point for us," McGovern said.

McGovern, who had held the single-game goal record before Wigler tied it, had two goals despite sitting for much of the second half.

Riann Daziel added five goals and an assist for the Trojans, while Alysha Kulka had three goals and two assists. Candace Corkin and Saffron Snethen each had two goals and Caitlin Sabadish and Kali Cook-Grisewood tucked away a goal to round out the scoring.

Allana Bauche had two assists.

"We had some success getting defenders turned around so they lost our girls cutting to net and finishing," Kelam said.