Rock Island, Ill. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's lacrosse team opened up their 2020-21 season on the road, with a 14-11 victory over Augustana College (Ill.). The Eagles improve to 1-0 on the season while the Vikings drop to 1-3. 

Augustana (Ill.) would take a 3-0 lead in the first half until UWL's Abigail Steigauf would find the back of the net unassisted at 15:56. Valerie Johnson would score less than a minute later to come within one of the Vikings. Steigauf would score at 3:51 for a 4-4 tie. UWL would take their first lead of the game when Nicole Jernander scored her first career goal with the help from Britta Nelson to give the Eagles a 5-4 lead heading into halftime.

UWL finished with 19 shots in the first half while picking up 14 ground balls and winning four draw controls. Augustana (Ill.) had nine shots in the first half winning five draw controls and 13 ground balls. 

UWL would start the second half going on a three goal scoring run, Jernander getting her second of the game and Grace Willmott her first. Augustana would come within two to make 9-7 at 12:02 after Cassisy Petire scored unassisted but the Eagles would score the next four taking a 13-7 lead with 6:57 remaining. The Eagles defense held the Vikings to four more goals in the half, they would also pick up 17 ground balls in the second half.

UWL finished with 38 shots, 29 on goal, going 21-for-28 on clear attempts while picking up 31 ground balls. Jernander had a team-high five goals while Johnson finished with four goals, two ground balls, and three draw controls. Steigauf added two goals, an assist and three draw controls while Claire Gentry picked up four ground balls. The Eagles would win 12 draw controls.

Abi Furlano would win her first start in net making seven saves and picking up four ground balls. 

Kathryn Hettiger scored four times for Augustana (Ill.) and Margaret Cecilio three. Cecilio also won seven draw controls and five ground balls. The Vikings had 23 shots with 18 on goal, including 25 ground balls and winning 14 draw controls. Courtney Veitch played the full 60-minutes making 15 saves and getting six ground balls. 

UWL returns to action Wednesday, March, 10 hosting Hamline University (Minn.) at 6 p.m.