PROVIDENCE, R.I. –  First-year head coach Caitlin Hansen led the Johnson & Wales University women's lacrosse team to the first victory in the history of the program as the Wildcats posted a 12-9 victory against Wentworth at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletics Complex on Tuesday evening.

Three different players recorded hat-tricks for Johnson & Wales as freshman Lydia Knapp (Glens Falls, N.Y.) had four goals and two assists while sophomore Anna Oshiro (Gloucester, Mass.) notched three goals and an assist in the victory.  Sophomore Jessica Schmell (Coopersberg, Pa.) also had a hat trick for the Wildcats.

Sophomore Pam Mudge (Hooksett, N.H.) notched five goals for Wentworth while junior Jessica Houghton (Billerica, Mass.) tallied a hat trick in the setback for the Wildcats.

Johnson & Wales jumped out to the early 4-0 lead after a goal by Knapp just 6:49 into the contest.  The two teams then traded goals throughout the remainder of the first half with JWU taking a 7-4 lead heading into halftime.  The Wildcats pushed it back to a four-goal advantage when an unassisted goal by Schmell at the 11:14 mark of the second half made the score 10-6.  That goal would prove to be the game-winner as the Wildcats held on for the 12-9 victory.  JWU had a 39-27 advantage in shots for the contest.

Junior Genevieve Giampietro (Meriden, Conn.) made 12 saves in the victory for Johnson & Wales while Robyn Pacini (Stoneham, Mass.) had 16 stops in the setback for Wentworth.

With the win Johnson & Wales is now 1-1 while Wentworth falls to 0-1 on the season.  The Wildcats will return to action on Thursday, March 6th when they host Regis in a non-conference contest at 1:00 p.m.

*Release courtesy of Johnson & Wales University Sports Information Dept.