Box Score

ELMHURST, Ill. – Seniors Anne Hopkins (Mother McAuley HS, Chicago, Ill.) and Olivia Mayer (Libertyville HS, Green Oaks, Ill.) and sophomore Carla Bennett (Marian Catholic HS, South Holland, Ill.) led the way Saturday as Augustana clinched no less than a share of this year's CCIW title with a 13-3 win at Elmhurst. Coach C.J. Durham's squad improved to 8-5 overall and 5-0 in the conference. The Vikings also clinched home field advantage for the CCIW Tournament starting Tuesday, May 2. The host Bluejays dropped to 2-12 on the season an 1-3 in the league.
 
A little more than five minutes in, Elmhurst took the lead on Grace Knoebel's free position goal. Hopkins parlayed a Bailey Aasen (Park HS, Cottage Grove, Minn.) assist into the first of four straight Augustana goals. Bennett assisted on a goal by freshman Samantha Wright (Pattonville HS, St. Louis, Mo.) and Hopkins and Aasen then assisted on each other's goals to give the Vikings a 4-1 lead midway through the first half.
 
Knoebel scored again, but Mayer scored twice off assists from Hopkins and then returned the favor as the visitors went to the locker room with a 7-2 advantage.
 
Another Knoebel free position goal started the scoring in the second half, but Bennett answered with one of her own. Consecutive goals by Hopkins made it 10-3 with 18:55 to play and the game's final three tallies came from sophomore Emily Lucnik (Schaumburg HS, Schaumburg, Ill.), Bennett and sophomore Abbie Hoeg (Minooka HS, Channahon, Ill.).
 
Augustana finished with advantages of 22-12 in shots, 18-17 in ground balls and 15-3 in draw controls. Durham's bunch was perfect on 11 clear attempts, while the Bluejays converted 12 of 20.
 
Individually, Hopkins scored eight points on five goals and three assists. Mayer and Bennett each had two goals and three assists. Aasen had a goal, two helpers and a game-high three caused turnovers. Mayer and goalie Madalynne Russell (Noblesville HS, Noblesville, Ill.) snared three ground balls apiece and Bennett controlled a game-high six draws.
 
Junior Analia Fowler (York HS, Elmhurst, Ill.) played the first half in goal and picked up the win to move to 7-4 on the season. Russell relieved her after halftime and made five saves.
 
The Vikings wrap up CCIW play on Wednesday, April 26 when they host Carroll in a 7:00 p.m. contest at Thorson-Lucken Field.