NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – A defensive masterclass rocketed the Presbyterian College lacrosse team to a wire-to-wire road victory against Central Connecticut on Tuesday afternoon in the final non-conference affair of 2024, utilizing a plus-10 advantage in shots en route to an 11-6 W.

The Blue Hose limited the Blue Devils to a single goal in three consecutive quarters to put a stamp on the one-sided win, a feat that had been achieved twice in seven contests prior to suiting up in New Britain.

PC stuffed the stat sheet in their first victory of the campaign, coming at the perfect moment with Big South action approaching up next.

Head coach Eric Clakeley's squad will finish up their three-game road stance on March 27 which will begin the most pivotal stretch of the year, traveling to reigning league champion Mercer in eight days for a 4:00 PM opening draw.

 
NOTABLES
 
- Starting keeper Kayleigh Aitken (a Canadian transfer who ventured to Presbyterian from Everest Academy) grabbed her first win in a PC uniform on Tuesday by going the full distance, calculating a .625 save percentage by halting 10 of 16 shots that came in her direction.

- Presby's back line was sensational in aiding the offense – who in turn produced some winning numbers on their own merit – keeping CCSU guessing which in turn led to only three goals from the home side over the last 45 minutes.

- Central Connecticut needed 27 minutes and 45 seconds in between their only two scores of the entire second half, witnessing a Blue Hose attack that built a lead that reached six nearing the close of the 3^rd.

- Preseason All-Big South recipient Willow Hammond accounted for a quad of goals in the first 30 minutes and ended the bout with five, just one off a career-best for the junior while hitting that number for the sixth time in her PC tenure.

- Kylie Sullivan was likewise an offensive menace, acquiring a multi-hit showing for the third straight matchup on her way to a trio of strikes.

- Rookie Emma Claire Mills (who was named the league's Freshman of the Week following a two-score effort in the season-opener versus Stetson) found the back of the net twice more as PC rattled the Blue Devils, landing both of those goals in only 35 seconds to push the lead further.

- Tuesday's final deficit denotes the largest win in a non-conference setting for Clakeley and co. since a 15-7 result over Delaware State on March 13, 2022 (coincidentally another outing where PC played the visitors' role).

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
- Central Connecticut managed to tie proceedings at 2-2 and 3-3, although the Blue Hose settled in from a defensive perspective and never let their opponent hit more than one in the remaining three stanzas.

- Sullivan allowed her club to double up the Blue Devils with 1:55 left in the 2^nd, creating the avenue for Presbyterian to waltz into the locker room with an 8-4 cushion.

- After 12 combined strikes in the opening half, the last 30 minutes leaned much heavier into preventative territory (a fact that compensated PC greatly thanks to the growing difference on the board). There were only five goals in the 3^rd and 4^th quarters put together, preserving the Presbyterian triumph.

- Beginning to piece together the defensive puzzle, the Blue Hose turned over CCSU 20 times in the non-con wrap-up while logging 17 ground ball recoveries.

- PC took the edge in draw control wins as well, ending the scuffle at 11-10 in that department to help keep Central Connecticut on their heels.

 
NEXT UP
 
- Coach Clakeley's crew looks to take a page from the 2023 script and pick up a win in the Big South opener, held next Wednesday in Macon, Georgia when the Scotsmen venture to regular powerhouse Mercer.

- The Bears made the division their domain last spring by running the table in conference outings (9-0), advancing to the NCAA Tournament with a 17-3 final record.

- However, it's been a bit of a bumpier start for Mercer one year later, holding a 3-4 mark before heading to 5^th-ranked Notre Dame for their nearest appearance on Sunday.

- Five of Mercer's first eight adversaries come from a "Power 5" background, setting the stage for an intriguing result when PC comes knocking. The league curtain-jerker will be broadcasted on ESPN+.