The Kenyon women’s lacrosse team continued its season with a multi-state trip over spring break. The Owls fought close battles in Gambier, Colorado and Michigan, ending the trip with a 2-4 overall record.
On Feb. 28, the Owls got their first home game of the season underway against the Baldwin Wallace University Yellowjackets. Kenyon immediately came out swinging, as Spencer Kirsch ’26 connected with the net on the very first draw control of the game and Lily Mason ’26 added a hard-fought goal just two minutes after Kirsch. The Owls struggled with turnovers but still managed to find the net again with Mason’s second score of the day, cushioning Kenyon’s lead.
The Owls then kicked off the second quarter exactly the same way they started, as Kirsch quickly notched another goal just 11 seconds in, earning herself a hat trick early on in the game. The Owls continued to put a sizable lead between themselves and Baldwin Wallace, as Mason connected for another goal. A save from Meagan Lacombe ’27 put the Owls back on the offensive, and Kirsch scored her fourth goal of the game, bringing the score to 6-1.
The second quarter raged on and the Yellowjackets found the back of the net for a second time in an attempt to cull the Kenyon attack. The Owls continued to assert their dominance as Anna Reif ’28 tallied a goal late in the second to take a two-goal lead into halftime. In the second half, despite goals from Mason, Ashley Quinn ’26 and Kirsch, Baldwin Wallace stormed back and scored the game-winning goal with 12 seconds to go for a 12-11 victory.
The Owls then traveled to Colorado Springs for their first game of the spring break trip against St. John Fisher University (N.Y.), where they fell 11-10. Fisher opened the scoring with a quick 2-0 lead. Kenyon fought back against the Cardinals and scored its first of the game with another goal from Kirsch to stop the bleeding before Charlotte Skelly ’28 equalized the score at 2-2. The Owls continued to assert their dominance in the first half thanks to Kirsch, who scored a goal from the 8-meter mark just two minutes into the second quarter. Bridgette Cassidy ’27 and Mason each scored a goal in the period, sending Kenyon into halftime up 6-5.
Once again, however, the Owls stumbled in the second half. Fisher scored a whopping five goals in the third quarter, overwhelming Kenyon’s defense and giving the Cardinals a lead the Owls couldn’t catch.
Kenyon then took on Colorado College. Though the Owls fought hard in the beginning, they got caught under the Tigers’ claws and Colorado secured a heavy-handed 13-5 win. Colorado held Kenyon scoreless throughout the first half and took a 7-0 lead into halftime. Skelly notched the Owls’ first goal of the game, with Quinn slotting a goal before Ashley Auerbach ’28 recorded a fourth-quarter hat trick, but it was too little, too late, and Kenyon fell. Things were more of the same for the Owls against Hope College (Mich.), and Kenyon was trounced 17-5. The biggest bright spot for Kenyon was Kirsch, who had two goals.
Two days later the Owls played their final game of the trip, where they showcased their offensive drive and secured a huge win over Kalamazoo College (Mich.) to provide a beacon of hope for the rest of their season.
Kirsch opened the scoring for the Owls just 30 seconds into the first quarter. After a Kalamazoo response, Quinn, Delaney Champeau ’26, Ella Rigoli ’26 and Cassidy all scored to close out the quarter up 6-3. The Owls continued to dominate their offensive end of the field with another two goals from Kirsch to extend the lead to five. Next, Susannah Zimmerman ’28 found the back of the net with the first half winding down. Kenyon continued to stay hot for the remainder of the half with goals from Ella Baxter ’28, Skelly, Champeau and Kirsch, going into the locker room with a comfortable distance between the Owls and the Hornets.
The third quarter also started in the Owls’ favor as Elena Zuvekas ’26 took advantage of the Hornets’ defense early and scored. Cecily Torres ’26 excelled on the defensive end for the Owls with loose ground ball pickups and caused turnovers, which helped the Owls get another two goals: one from Skelly and another from Kirsch as the third period wound down. The Owls continued to hold the Hornets scoreless for the remainder of the period as they extended their sizable lead with another two straight goals from Rigoli and Zuvekas to head into the fourth. The final period was more of the same, and Kenyon claimed a dominant 23-5 win.
The Owls will look to put another win in the column with their second home game on The Field at Benson Bowl against Adrian College (Mich.) in another nonconference contest.