THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (March 9, 2026) – California Lutheran University held off two fourth quarter rallies to deal Emerson College its first setback of the season with a 15-12 decision in a non-conference women's lacrosse matchup at William Rolland Stadium this evening.
Junior Madison Soforenko led Cal Lutheran with a six-point game, totaling four goals and two assists with four ground balls, a caused turnover and draw control. Senior Josie Oparanaku added three goals and two assists, five caused turnovers four ground balls and two draw controls, while classmate Sydnee Hill contributed three goals and an assist with three ground balls. Senior Sydney Shin chipped in three goals and four draw controls.
Senior Bella Bravo preserved the win with seven saves in the Cal Lutheran goal, collecting give ground balls and a caused turnover.
Sophomore Laura Lovell netted a career-high six goals to lead Emerson, while junior Ava DelliCompagni added three goals and an assist while collecting ten draw controls, five ground balls and a caused turnover. Sophomore Laina Gustafson contributed four points with a goal and three assists with two draws.
Senior Lindsey Wettstein made her first start of the season in goal for Emerson and totaled eight saves and four caused turnovers in 33-minutes of play before yielding to classmate Ellie Spotts to make two stops in the closing 26:47 with two caused turnovers.
Cal Lutheran never trailed, scoring the first two goals off the stick of Soforenko and Oparanaku five minutes into the game. The Regals carried that margin into the second quarter and stretched the advantage to five as Hill answered DelliCompagni's first goal 18-seconds into the frame with back-to-back goals to spark a four-goal run. DelliCompagni's second of the game capped the first half scoring and then senior Holland Rutter opened the second half with her second of the game 90-seconds in.
Cal Lutheran reclaimed a five-goal lead (11-6) after Oparanaku netted a woman up goal with six minutes remaining in the third quarter. Lovell scored three-straight goals to pull Emerson back within a pair (12-10) less than three minutes into the fourth quarter, but the Lions would not get any closer.
Sophomore Alexa Miller set up goals from Soforenko and junior Marina Markrud that restored the four-goal lead for Cal Lutheran with eight minutes remaining. Lovell again pulled Emerson back within two (14-12) with three minutes still to play after a pair of goals 11-seconds apart. The rally ended there with Shin's third goal of the game with 1:08 on the clock.
Up Next:
Emerson (4-1, 0-0 NEWMAC) is right back in action on Wednesday when it concludes its spring break trip to the West Coast at Chapman University at 7 p.m. (ET). The Lions return home on Saturday when they open NEWMAC play against Salve Regina University at Rotch Field at 1 p.m. Cal Lutheran (1-4, 0-4 SCIAC) hosts Washington and Jefferson College tomorrow at 4 p.m.
For the latest on Emerson Athletics, follow the Lions via social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook as well as online at emersonlions.com powered by SIDEARM Sports.
