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KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State women's lacrosse team exploded for 22 goals Sunday afternoon as four Owls recorded three or more goals to defeat Detroit 22-15 and cap off a perfect weekend homestand.
 
Abby Squires scored a career-high six goals while Siena Gore (7), Izzy Palermo (4) and Anna Giulitto (3) all matched their career marks. KSU's 22 goals scored is tied for fourth-most in a single-game in KSU history, marking the first time since Apr. 9, 2017 the Owls have netted 22 or more goals.
 
How it happened: The Owls (4-6, 0-1) set the tone early, jumping out to a 3-0 lead just two minutes in behind two free position goals from Squires sandwiched around a goal from Siena Gore. Detroit (3-7) got on the board shortly afterwards, but KSU had an answer for each Titan goal as the two squads traded scores over the next 10 minutes.
 
Squires was the first Owl to record a hat trick after netting a goal at the 18:24 mark to make it 8-4. Detroit chipped away at KSU's lead with a 3-1 run, eventually pulling within one, 10-9, following back-to-back goals from UDM's Elise Harder with 7:40 still to play.
 
Giulitto finally halted the Titans' run with her third goal of the half to spark a 5-0 run for the Owls to close out the first half. Both Squires and Siena Gore netted five goals in the first period, followed by Giulitto with three and Palermo with two to give the Owls a commanding 15-9 lead heading into the locker room.
 
KSU kept the pressure on in the second half as Palermo netted her third goal of the game followed by a free position goal from Haley Swift to give the Owls their largest lead of the game 17-9 at the 27:34 mark. UDM would not be deterred, cutting into KSU's lead behind a 4-1 run to pull within five, 18-13, with 20 minutes left in the game.
 
Jennifer Buckley brought Detroit's run to an end with her sole goal of the game before Siena Gore made it 20-13 seconds later. The Owls then clamped down defensively, allowing only one goal over the next 15 minutes. Detroit managed one more goal in the final minutes, but it was too little too late as Squires and Palermo found the back of the net once again to give KSU the 22-15 victory.
 
Notes: The Owls tied their season-high with 30 points, marking the fourth time this year they have recorded 20 or more points … Siena Gore's seven goals is tied for the second-most in single-game history … Emily Napierala tied her career-high with three assists on the day … Haley Swift logged her second straight game with two assists, adding one goal … KSU finished 9-of-12 on free position shots, 6-of-7 in the first half, to rank third in single-game history for free position goals … nine Owls recorded at least one caused turnover, led by Roslyn Talbert and Siena Gore with two each … KSU's 11 turnovers marks the third time this year it has recorded 10 or more … KSU logged its fourth straight game with 14 or more ground balls, led by Riley Proshek with three … with her two ground balls on the day, Maura Palandro became the third Owl in history to hit the century mark with 100 ground balls in her career … KSU dominated the center circle with 27 draw controls, six shy of the overall record … Abby Squires and Siena Gore led the team with nine draw controls each, a career-high mark for Squires … Marissa Gore extended her streak to nine straight games with five or more draw controls, logging eight … KSU finished the game shooting 68.8 percent to tie its season-high and mark its second straight game shooting 50 percent or better.
 
Up next: The Owls look to keep the momentum rolling on the road as they open a four-game road stretch Friday (Apr. 5) at Furman at 6 p.m.