LIVONIA, Mich. - Lawrence Tech turned an early deficit into a runaway win scoring eight times in the first quarter and defeating Madonna 21-4. The Blue Devils took control with a 13-1 run after conceding the opening goal, then never let Madonna back within reach.
Madonna went in front 1-0 in the first quarter, but Lawrence Tech answered quickly. Morgan Waligora tied the match at off an assist from Jocelyn Vander Zwaag, starting the stretch that decided the game. By the final minute of the quarter, Vander Zwaag added a goal of her own as the Blue Devils closed the opening 15 minutes with an 8-1 lead. Lawrence Tech kept building from there, going up 13-2 by halftime, 17-3 after the third quarter and 21-4 by the final horn.
The Blue Devils controlled possession and chances throughout the afternoon. Lawrence Tech finished with a 48-7 advantage in shots, put 37 attempts on goal and converted four power-play opportunities. The team also posted 18 draw controls, 15 ground balls and only nine turnovers, while Madonna committed 25 turnovers. That possession edge showed up across all four quarters, with Lawrence Tech scoring at least four goals in each one.
Alyson Walendzak led the attack with four goals, including a man-up score at 6:45 of the second quarter and a free-position goal with five seconds left in the third that made it 17-3. Waligora finished with three goals and two assists, while Vander Zwaag had three goals, two assists and five ground balls. Bella Louwerse also recorded three goals and two assists, scoring early in the second quarter to make it 9-1 and adding the game's final goal with 50 seconds remaining. Mari Pellmann contributed three goals and three draw controls, and McKenna VanZant and Sydney Garon each figured into the second-half scoring push.
In goal, Madison Gugala played all 60 minutes for Lawrence Tech and allowed four goals while making two saves. On the other end, Madonna goalkeeper kept the score from climbing even higher with 16 saves as Lawrence Tech repeatedly generated quality looks. Still, the Blue Devils' efficiency and steady control around the draw circle and in transition kept the game tilted in their favor from the middle of the first quarter on.
The late sequence followed the same pattern as the rest of the afternoon. Pellmann opened the fourth-quarter scoring for Lawrence Tech at 13:45, Waligora struck again at 7:39, Vander Zwaag made it 20-4 at 2:41 and Louwerse closed the scoring at 0:50, capping a complete road performance for the Blue Devils.
The Blue Devils are set to compete at home Tuesday April 28 at Blue Devil Stadium in Southfield, Mich. against Aquinas College in the WHAC Championship.
