FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Seven different Monarchs scored multiple goals to guide Methodist women's lacrosse to an 18-8 victory over visiting North Carolina Wesleyan College in USA South Athletic Conference action Monday evening.

Julee Delellis, Tia Marlinghaus, and Rosa Williams each tied for the team-high with three goals and an assist. Alaijah Ward had two goals and an assist to finish third on the team with three points, while Ainsley McGinn, Taylor Mustian, and Morgan Eggleston each had two goals.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Methodist def. N.C. Wesleyan, 18-8
Records: Methodist 3-3 (1-1 USA South), N.C. Wesleyan 2-7 (0-3)
Location: Monarch Stadium; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Monarchs' dominance in man-up situations and in free-position opportunities set the tone for their win. Methodist scored seven goals while up a player, and five free-position goals. Leading 13-7, Methodist closed out the game on a 5-1 run in the final 7:30 of game time, which included three man-advantage scores.
• The game's first goal came via a Delellis man-up, free position shot less than 90 seconds into the start. Williams scored the next two goals, including a man-up, free-position goal to go up 3-1 and Marlinghaus added a man-up, free-position goal for No. 4. 
• Marlinghaus' score was the start of a 4-0 run that saw Methodist extend its lead from 3-2 to 7-2 with nine minutes remaining in the first half. Delellis scored three goals in the first half and Williams had two scores and an assist.
• Consecutive Marlinghaus goals gave the Monarchs a 10-4 lead early in the second half and another three Methodist goals grew the lead to 13-5. Marlinghaus assisted on an Eggleston goal, which was sandwiched by a pair of Mustian scores. 
• The Battling Bishops responded with a pair of goals that were separated by 15 seconds to cut the deficit to 13-7. Ali Cucinotta scored and won the ensuing draw control, leading to an Ayanna Walker score with 14:37 remaining. That was the only time in the game that N.C. Wesleyan scored consecutively.

MORE TO IT

• Delellis, Jem Golombeski, McGinn, and Claire Cromity led the team with four ground balls recovered. Delellis, Ward, and Jalessa Batchelor tied the team-high in caused turnovers, and Mikayla Ramos led with five draw controls.
• The game was pretty even in the team stats as both teams logged the same number of draw control wins (14) and the difference in shots taken (NCW 27; MU 25), turnovers (NCW 34; MU 36), ground balls (NCW 36; MU 32), and free position shots (NCW 8; MU 7) were relatively negligible. The difference in the game is that Golombeski had nine saves to eight goals allowed for her first win of the season and the Battling Bishops' keepers combined for three saves and 18 goals allowed.
• Cucinotta led the Battling Bishops in goals (five), shots (17), ground balls (eight), draw controls (eight), assists (one), and turnovers (10) as she was the jack-of-all-trades for them.

UP NEXT

• The Monarchs are again home at Monarch Stadium when they host Averett University on Friday, April 2 at 2 p.m. in conference play.
• The Battling Bishops looks to get their first league win when they travel to Raleigh, N.C., for a Wednesday, March 31 matchup against Meredith College at 6 p.m.