FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Women's Lacrosse team earned a comfortable 21-7 victory over Wheeling at home on Wednesday.
 
Both offenses were slow to start the game, as freshman Lauren Kunes and junior Maya Mosslih came up with caused turnovers for the Bobcats, while Cardinal keeper Giavonna Perkins made saves on freshman Avery O'Hara and senior Neila Haney. Out of an FSU green card, WU opened the scoring with a woman-up goal just under five minutes in, however freshman Maddie Russel answered right back with a free position score a minute later.
 
Sophomore Kam Lee then forced another Wheeling TO, as a pair of efforts went wide before Haney put home a free position to get Frostburg their first lead. The Cardinals struggled to keep possession with two more turnovers, as FSU took full advantage with Kunes being found by Haney and Russell firing a solo effort in for a 4-1 lead. Perkins made a pair of saves either side of sophomore Liz Amos getting low for a stop of her own, as an interception at midfield by Kunes led to her passing up-field to Haney to end the first up 5-1.
 
With the Cardinals keeping possession into the second, Amos made an early save that paved the way for the Bobcats to take full control. Russell completed her hat trick before freshman Delaney Burrows followed with her first tally, then another Amos stop paved the way for junior Gianna Leonardi firing a great pass into senior Sydney Stone for an 8-1 advantage. A turnover deep in Frostburg territory got WU back into the game, as they went for two goals less than 30 seconds apart before Haney was denied by the post, eventually leading to another woman-up effort for the visitors, suddenly making the score 8-4.
 
Perkins tried to keep the momentum going with a save but Lee got FSU possession back, as Haney broke up the three-goal run with a solo shot to lead by five. Amos then made an impressive stop in a one-on-one situation, as on the transition, Russell found Stone for a 10-4 score. After the sides traded turnovers, Amos denied Wheeling once more, as Frostburg's offense came alive, putting home five goals in the final three minutes of the half. O'Hara fired a cross-field pass to senior Emily Lamoreaux to put home, then Haney and Russell each netted a pair of scores, as Leonardi had an assist to each, going into the break up 15-4.
 
Both sides had a shot go off target to open the third period, with the Cardinals getting on the board first after a good clear. They were then quickly whistled for a foul, as Haney found Stone on the advantage, then Lamoreaux passed to Burrows for a 17-5 lead two minutes later. Sophomore Kiera Pieper entered the cage and made her first save at the midway point, while senior Sara Weingarden and junior Kelly Johnson each helped keep the WU attack at bay. In the final five minutes, Haney was found by sophomore Gigi Meyer, then Weingarden had another CT and Pieper provided a save, as O'Hara ended the frame on a pass from Haney for a 19-5 score.
 
Each goalkeeper made a save to start the final period, with Wheeling netting a pair of scores either side of sophomore Julia Bannister going on a solo run for a 20-7 lead. Pieper put another trio saves on the board over the next six minutes, while the Cardinals were aided by the post and three off-target FSU efforts. Out of another WU card, Bannister netted her second of the day, as the theme of Pieper standing tall and Weingarden causing a turnover put the final at 21-7.
 
Haney led all scorers on nine points with six goals and three assists, as Russell added five goals and a dime. Mosslih and Weingarden drove the defensive effort with eight combined caused turnovers and five groundballs.
 
With the win, Frostburg improves to 12-3 on the year, while Wheeling drops to 8-8. FSU will next travel to Point Park on Friday, April 17 for a 2 p.m start in Pittsburgh, Pa. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.