MIDDLETOWN, Conn. –  A suffocating defensive display saw the No. 8 Wesleyan women's lacrosse team hold St. Lawrence to just one goal over 49:25 minutes in a dominating 14-5 home win over the Saints on Wednesday afternoon from Smith Field. Wesleyan (5-1) wins for the fifth straight game after a season-opening defeat to Top 10 ranked Colby.
 
The Saints scored the opening goal 1:39 into play but the Cardinals quickly took full control, scoring nine unanswered until SLU netted a goal with 10 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Becca Dibble '26 assisted on back-to-back Laura Baine '24 goals to give the Cardinals a lead and a pair of free position goals from dual sport teammates Sam DeLeo '25 and Dylan Green '26 made it 4-1 Wesleyan after one.
 
DeLeo had a big second quarter, scoring or assisting on three of the five Cardinal goals in the frame. After scoring an unassisted goal within the first two minutes of the quarter, she dished to Molly Greer '24 in front for another goal. Brooke Nelson '24 followed with a free position goal before DeLeo scored again and Dibble netted her sixth of the season to make it 9-1 Cardinals.
 
Leading 9-2 at halftime, Wesleyan continued to push, outscoring the Saints 4-0 in the 3^rd quarter to push the lead to double digits, activating the running clock rule for the remainder of play. DeLeo recorded her second assist and fifth point of the game on a pass to Baine to open the scoring in the second half. Baine scored again 2:17 later, taking a feed from Olivia Lai '23. Maddie Shoemaker '27 then made it 12-2 Cardinals as Lai assisted again.
 
The third straight goal involving Lai saw the graduate attack score off a pass from Elle Priesing '26 for her 19^th goal of the season and first and only goal on the day. With the bench emptied in the 4^th quarter, it was Sami Smith '27 who's first career goal was the lone tally for the Cardinals before the game ended in a 14-5 win.
 
DeLeo had a monster game, recording her second career hat trick and a career-high five points on three goals and two assists. She added four ground balls and two caused turnovers to her totals.
 
Baine scored four goals for the second straight game and seventh time in her career. Lai and Dibble both finished with one goal and three assists. This is the first career three-assist game for Lai while Dibble has consecutive four-point games.
 
Kiara Tangney '25 led the midfield unit with four ground balls and three caused turnovers, leading the team in both categories, while she added three draw controls.
 
Wesleyan outshot SLU 37-12 for the game while the Saints committed 28 turnovers and went 17-for-33 on clears. The Cardinals also held a 15-6 advantage in draw controls.
 
The Cardinals return to NESCAC play on Sunday morning with an 11 AM start at Bates. Wesleyan has won six straight meetings against the Bobcats including a 15-3 decision in Middletown last season.