Junior Katie VanDeValk (Baldwinsville, NY) scored a game-high five goals and classmates Kerrie Cline (Tuxedo, NY) and Alyssa Cristaldi (North Syracuse, NY) chipped in four goals apiece as the Clarkson University Women’s Lacrosse team snapped out of a four-game skid with its first Liberty League win of the year by defeating the University of Rochester 17-9 at Hantz Turf Field on Saturday afternoon.

The University of Rochester held a brief 2-1 lead in the opening 10 minutes of the contest, but after that the Golden Knights took control and dominated the remainder of the game to pick of their first victory since late March.

The Yellowjackets (2-9, 1-5 Liberty league) went on top 2-1 with goals by Sarah Skinner and Lindsey Randall to start the game, but Clarkson answered back with an eight goal run to hold a 9-2 advantage with 11:46 remaining in the first half. After Rochester tallied its third goal with seven minutes left in the period, the Knights came back with three more goals to close out the opening 30 minutes with a 12-3 lead.

The Green and Gold added two more scores to start the second half, building up a 14-3 lead with 23 minutes still to play.

VanDeValk led all scorers with seven points (5-2). Cline followed with six points (4-2). Freshmen Danielle Faivus (Oswego, NY) and Cassie Grace (Potsdam, NY) chipped in three points (1-2) each. Junior Nicole Kelly (Syracuse, NY) tallied one goal and an assist. Junior Jeanette Pendergast (Greenfield Center, NY) also connected for a goal to round out the Clarkson goal scorers.

Niki Holmes scored four goals, while Lindsey Randall tallied two goals and an assist to highlight the Yellowjackets' scoring.

The Knights outshot Rochester 27-20, while the Yellowjackets controlled ground balls, 20-15. Senior Hannah Walters (Amherst, NH) started in goal for Clarkson and picked up the win with six saves through 54 minutes of play. Sophomore Kara DiNatale (Auburn, NH) played the final six minutes in the Knights’ goal.

Clarkson dominated draw controls, winning 21-of-28. VanDeValk and Cristaldi both recorded seven wins on draw controls to start the Knights’ offense.

Clarkson, at 4-6 and 1-4 in the Liberty League, will look to continue its winning ways when the Knights host SUNY Canton in a non-league game under the lights at Hantz Turf Field on Tuesday, beginning at 7:00 p.m.