Whittier entered the contest averaging over 13 goals per game and was coming off a 15-13 victory over Wittenberg on Monday night in Springfield. The Big Red knew that controlling possession and slowing the Poet offensive attack would be priority No. 1 if they were to come out victorious. The game plan worked to perfection as DU prevailed 17-5 on Tuesday afternoon from Deeds Field-Piper Stadium.
The first half saw the Big Red win eight of nine draws while jumping out to an 8-1 halftime lead. Junior Lulu Carter (Greenwich, Conn./The Millbrook School) got Denison on the board in the second minute of play when she scored her second goal of the season. Alex Thurner (Cincinnati, Ohio/Summit Country Day) and Phoebe Myhrum (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy), who would combine for eight points in the game, would go back-to-back on goals within a minute of each other to give Denison a 3-0 lead.
Whittier's Emily Mukai, who entered the match with 21 goals, put the Poets on the scoreboard with 15:15 to play in the half but DU would respond with a five unanswered goals to close out the first half of play.
In the second half, Whittier's Lauren Bibby scored off the opening draw but DU would slam the door, going on another 5-0 run to take a 13-2 lead at the midway point of the second half. The Poets improved their draw percentage in the second period but that didn't stop the Big Red from piling up the goals. DU scored their 17 goals off only 26 shots and they were excellent in transition, going 12-for-12 when clearing the ball.
Myhrum led Denison's offense with three goals and two assists. Thurner chipped in three goals and Molly Sbrega (Portland, Maine/Deering) finished with two goals and one assist for DU. Denison's other nine goals were scored by nine different individuals.
The Big Red defense forced Whittier into 16 turnovers and held leading scorer, Carolyn Mukai scoreless on seven shot attempts. Mukai entered the game with a team-high 53 goals in 12 games which ranked her second in NCAA Division III in total goals scored. Senior Bethany Keller (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) had three ground balls and two caused turnovers. Freshman Molly Cornbrooks (Baltimore, Md./Roland Park Country School), who was making her first career start, scored one goal off an 8-meter attempt in the second half while posting two ground balls and two caused turnovers.
Denison's starting goalie, Hannah Minifie (Dalton, Mass./Miss Hall's School), played 39 minutes and posted four saves to earn her fifth victory of the season. Grace Bondermann (Pelham Manor, N.Y./Pelham Memorial) played the final 21 minutes, finishing with three saves.
The Big Red will return to action on Thursday (April 8) when they host Wittenberg at 7 p.m.
