MARIETTA, Ohio — The Marietta College women's lacrosse team posted a dominating 27-1 win over Hiram College Wednesday (Feb. 28) afternoon. The 27 goals are the best output of the program ever, besting the 25 goals scored against Thiel back on March 22, 2023.  The Pioneers improve to 2-2 on the season.  Hiram, in their first game since the 2020 season, falls to 0-1 overall.

"Today was a total team effort and I am so proud of this group," Marietta head coach Lindsay Reho said. "It's awesome to see goals go in the back of the net for so many different people; shout out to Sidney and Havana for their first career goals! This group played with so much joy today and that reflected on the scoreboard and will stand in the record books for a long time. The first of many historic games I see in the future for this team."

Mallory Wiles (Worthington, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) wasted little time getting the Pioneers on the board scoring 10 seconds into the game.  In the next three minutes alone, Molly Dickens (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville) added a trio of scores and Lydia McCarter (Fort Mill, S.C./Catawba Ridge) found the back of the net twice to give Marietta a six-score lead.  Maggie Downard (Canal Fulton, Ohio/Jackson) and Rene Mulvaney got into the scoring column and, at the eight-minute mark, Wiles scored again to put the lead at nine.  Fiona Betzhold scored a goal and Catherine Martin (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Salem) got her first score of the season to put the first quarter lead into double-digits.  Marietta got yet one more score from Dickens and took a 12-0 lead into the second quarter. 

With the game already in a running clock position, the Pioneers still dominated the second period as they outscored the Tomcats 5-0 during the span.  Wile, Downard, and Betzhold all added to the goal totals, while Dickens added two more scores to continue her team lead.  Marietta led 17-0 heading into intermission.

The third quarter also moved at a rapid pace, but Marietta still extended the already commanding lead.  McCarter scored a player-advantage goal five minutes into the period and, at the 7:27 mark, Havana Gomez (Pittsburgh, Pa./Oakland Catholic) scored for the first time in her Pioneer career to push the lead to 19.  Mulvaney added another score and, in the final minute, Maddie Heyboer (Wyoming, Mich./Grandville) added a tally to give Marietta a 22-0 lead into the final stanza.

Another milestone happened seconds into the fourth quarter as Sidney Wiles (Worthington, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) scored the first goal of her career.  Mallory Wiles (Worthington, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) added another pair of scores and Betzhold collected one more score to finish the Pioneer onslaught.  The Terriors scored their lone goal in the final five minutes to avoid the shutout, but the Pioneers were too much for them on the day.  Their 27 goals were most in program history and, more importantly, solidifying the non-conference victory.
 
Tessa Labrasciano (Brandon, Fla./Bloomingdale Senior) played the first half in the net and got the win for Marietta.  She faced three shots, all of which were on goal, and saved them all.  Morgan Parker (Gahanna, Ohio/Lincoln) played the second half and faced only one shot, the lone Terrior goals of the afternoon.

Dickens led the Pioneers with six scores and also assisted on three others.  She also led the team with six groundballs.  Mallory Wiles (Worthington, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) added five scores and co-led the Pioneers with four assists.  Betzhold scored four goals, assisted on two others, and led Marietta with two caused turnovers.  Downard and McCarter added three scores apiece, with McCarter collecting six draw controls. Sidney Wiles (Worthington, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) added three assists to her first career goal. Alayna Francis (Irwin, Pa./Norwin) led with nine draw controls and caused two turnovers.
 
"A huge congrats to Hiram on getting a team back on the field and continuing to grow our sport," concluded Reho.  "It's special to be a part of moments like that and we are grateful to be a part of their history as well!"

Marietta is back in action on Wednesday (March 4) as they hit the road to battle Oberlin College, with a start time scheduled for 6 p.m.

Fans can follow all the Pioneer teams all year long at pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on X and Instagram.