HANOVER, Ind. — The Illinois Tech women's lacrosse team (1-5) claimed a commanding 9–3 victory over Hanover College (2-4) on Saturday at Alumni Stadium, in the process claiming their first victory of the 2026 season. Illinois Tech's defense was rock-solid, with goalie Samantha Gargiulo making 15 saves and holding the Panthers to a mere three goals. Eliza Baron and Jenny Park each scored three goals for the Hawks.

How It Happened

The Scarlet Hawks kicked off the first quarter with Jenny Park netting a goal at 13:19, marking her eighth of the season. Hanover leveled the score with a goal from Brannon Chubb at 5:32, assisted by Iyana Phelps. With just over a minute left, Eliza Baron scored for Illinois Tech, her third of the season, giving the team a 2–1 lead at the quarter's end. Both defenses stood firm, with key saves from goalies Samantha Gargiulo and Emma Williams amidst several turnovers.

Illinois Tech widened their lead in the second quarter with two more goals from Baron at 14:09 and again at 10:41 during a player-up situation, assisted by Antonia Martinez. The Panthers struggled with turnovers and failed clears, allowing the Scarlet Hawks to dominate possession. Despite a late goal by Phelps at 2:46, assisted by Alysha Baker, Hanover couldn't significantly close the gap, ending the half down 4–2.

The Scarlet Hawks capitalized on a player-up opportunity early in the third quarter, with Martinez scoring her 11th goal of the season on an assist from Park at 11:22. Park quickly followed with her own goal at 10:59, extending Illinois Tech's lead. Hanover couldn't convert their chances, with multiple shots saved by Gargiulo, who made crucial stops on attempts by Quinn Cherry and Mallory Mahin. Despite turnovers by both teams, Illinois Tech maintained their edge, finishing the quarter leading 6–2.

Illinois Tech sealed a decisive win in the final quarter, adding three more goals. Park kicked off the scoring with her 10th goal of the season at 13:37. Martinez added her 12th goal at 5:57 and assisted Elise Wierzchon at 4:38 to extend the lead further. Hanover's Jasmine Stephens scored her first goal of the season at 1:43, but it was not enough to threaten Illinois Tech's dominant performance.

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

Eliza Baron
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- 3 goals
- 1 game-winning goal
- 4 shots on goal

Jenny Park
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- 3 goals
- 1 assist
- 3 shots on goal

Samantha Gargiulo
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- 15 saves
- 24 shots faced

Antonia Martinez
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- 2 goals
- 2 assists
- 6 shots on goal

Hanover Top Performers

Iyana Phelps
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- 1 goal
- 1 assist
- 4 shots
- 3 shots on goal

Jasmine Stephens
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- 1 goal
- 1 shot
- 1 shot on goal
- 1 player-down goal

Brannon Chubb
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- 1 goal
- 1 assist
- 2 shots
- 1 game-tying goal

Emma Williams
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- 8 saves
- 24 shots faced

Game Notes:
- Illinois Tech improved to 3-0 lifetime against the Panthers.
- A season-high 15 draw controls were recorded by the team.
- The Scarlet Hawks notched 2 player-up goals, surpassing their season average of 1.4.
- Eliza Baron hit a season-high with 3 goals.
- The team scored 9 goals, exceeding their season average of 5.6.
- Illinois Tech fired off 24 shots, surpassing their season average of 15.0.
- Victoria Yancheva recorded a season-high 2 ground balls.
- Ellie Wytko also registered a season-high 2 ground balls.

Up Next
The Scarlet Hawks head to Minneapolis to face Augsburg University. The matchup is set for Friday, March 20 at noon.