LEBANON, Ill. - McKendree University women's lacrosse grabbed two more wins at home this past week, defeating the University of Findlay on Friday and Tiffin University on Sunday. The Bearcats are off to a 3-0 start, the best since 2015 when McKendree won six consecutive games to start the season. 

Against Findlay, the Oilers and Bearcats were tied at two goals each by the end of quarter one. The lead was traded twice in the second quarter with the Oilers going up 3-2 before the Bearcats answered with their own goal to tie the score at 3-all. When the Oilers found the net once again, McKendree responded with two goals to claim its first lead at 4-3. By the end of 30 minutes of play, the Bearcats held a 5-4 advantage. 

McKendree outscored Findlay 5-3 in the third quarter to extend its lead to 10-7, and the Bearcat offense charged with four more goals in the final period while its defense held the Oilers to just two goals. McKendree gained its second win of the season with a score of 14-9. 

Graduate student attacker Kat Albrect led the Bearcats with eight goals while junior midfielder Olivia Julian netted three goals and three more Bearcats added one goal to the total. Albrecht also tallied a team-high five assists on the day. Graduate student goalkeeper Clara Andrews held the net for McKendree, recording 10 saves against the Oilers. 

McKendree faced Tiffin on Sunday afternoon, starting the game with a 2-1 lead in the first quarter. The Bearcats saw a scoring surge in the second period, scoring eight goals to the Dragons' one. The offense picked up for Tiffin and slowed for McKendree in the third period as the Dragons fired three goals and the Bearcats netted five to push the score to 15-5 heading into the final period of play. Tiffin was held to no goals in the fourth quarter while McKendree pressed on, taking down the Dragons with a final score of 19-5. 

Albrecht and Julian topped the offense efforts for McKendree with six goals each as Albrecht scored on seven shot attempts and Julian took nine shots on goal in the contest.  Sophomore attacker Jenna Sugarman and freshman midfielder Jayna Barnden also recorded two goals each in the win. 

With 12 saves against the Dragons, Andrews marked her third game this season in double-digits. The Bearcats have held opponents to single-digit goals in all three games this season with Andrews in the net. 

Coming up, the Bearcats will look to continue their streak against Concordia-St. Paul in a 3 p.m. contest at Leemon Field on Friday, Feb. 24.