SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University women's lacrosse team got a career-high five goals from sophomore Bennett Widlake and a career-high five assists from junior Lindsey Kennedy on a sunny Tuesday afternoon as the Raiders posted an impressive 21-5 victory over Shepherd from Robb Sports Complex.

Shippensburg (4-2) dominated the opening 20 minutes of play and entered halftime with a 14-3 advantage. Widlake scored the game's first goal in just 36 seconds, and the Raiders kept the offensive pressure going by racing out to a 6-1 lead before the game was 10 minutes old.

SU was impressive on draws in the contest and used its success in the circle to create subsequent scoring opportunities. SU won 10 of the first 12 draws in the game and eventually scored on each stretch of play after it came away with a successful control. In fact, the Raiders managed a 13-4 advantage on draws in the first half – with Widlake controlling three of her game-high four in the opening half.

Shepherd (8-3), a squad that started the year with eight consecutive wins (including a 21-16 victory over Millersville), was never able to establish any momentum against a stingy Raider attack. The Rams committed 22 turnovers in the contest and were held without a goal for the first nine minutes of play.

Despite the lopsided score, the play of senior goaltender Ali Cross was crucial SU's success in Tuesday's contest. Cross made a career-high 10 saves, including four on free-position opportunities, to go along with a caused turnover and two groundballs. Her leadership and her poise were noticeable despite working as a goaltender for just the fourth time in her collegiate career.

Offensively, freshman Courtney Kennedy finished with four goals for the Raiders – including a hat trick in the first half. All of her tallies were assisted, with her sister Lindsey teaming up on two of the strikes. She is now one of four players on the team with 10 or more goals through six games. Lindsey – meanwhile – was all over the field once again, winning three draw controls and picking up two groundballs in the contest.

Senior Lauren Hauck put forth another gutsy effort and was once again integral to the team's success. Hauck picked up her second hat trick of the season and the fourth of her career to go along with an assist and a caused turnover. She scored SU's final goal of the first half before the horn after Widlake won the draw and raced down the field in a full sprint before tossing her a splendid feed.

Sophomore Kayla Dalzell also contributed a hat trick – the first of her career – to bring her season total to 11 goals. Dalzell provided what was arguably the most impressive tally of the day in the second half, as she faked a defender to the ground before waltzing around her and depositing a shot into the net past the helpless goalkeeper.

Junior Roxanne Brown had the unique stat line of one of everything other than a card – scoring a goal on her only shot, assisting on a second-half goal and committing one turnover in addition to recording one draw control, one groundball and one caused turnover.

Freshman Sheila Johnson scored twice off the bench. Sophomore Amanda Krok and freshman Garrie Grenfell also added tallies. Sophomore Liz French maintained her stabilizing presence with a goal, assist and three draw controls.

The SU defense was stellar in the contest – neutralizing many scoring opportunities. Juniors Sarah Chrencik and Jenna Simmons was particularly staunch in back, stymying the pace of the Ram attackers while also combining for three caused turnovers and three draw controls.

Senior Meagan Borgoyn was a big factor in Shippensburg's 17 successful clears by picking up a game-high six groundballs. Sophomore Kayla Weaver made her first collegiate start in Tuesday's game and also played well along the back lines.

Shippensburg will play two crucial PSAC road games this weekend – traveling to take on the Fighting Scots of Edinboro on Friday before facing The Rock on Saturday. Both contests will begin at 3 p.m. from their respective sites.