Meghan Turner had five caused turnovers and Katie Latonick completed her first career hat trick to help lead the Quinnipiac University women's lacrosse team (5-1 in NEC) to a 9-5 victory over Wagner on Saturday afternoon in Hamden. With the victory, the team matched its best start in school history through 11 games and stands 7-4 overall. The mark was set back in 2002. Quinnipiac's defense, which entered the weekend leading the nation in caused turnovers, accumulated another 18 in the victory today and finished with 32 caused turnovers over the weekend.

Quinnipiac improves to 7-4 overall, 5-1 in NEC play. Wagner drops to 2-8 overall, 1-4 in NEC play.

The Bobcats wasted no time getting on the scoreboard and tacked on the first three goals of the game. Nicole Fiore broke up a Wagner clear attempt, scooped up the ground ball and then found Tiffany Manzi cutting down from the right side. Fiore flipped the ball to her teammate and Manzi found the back of the net for the 20th time this season at 28:03. Manzi matched a career high for goals in a season on the play.

After almost 13 minutes of back-and-forth scoreless action, Fiore set up Katy Delagi for the second Bobcat goal at 15:45. Delagi scored a second straight time on a free position shot at 7:20 to add to the lead the Bobcats would hold on to for the entire game.

Janine Bright put Wagner on the scoreboard before the half was over on a free position shot at 3:09. It was the first goal the Bobcats surrendered in 55:03 dating back to the Thursday's Mount St. Mary's contest.

The teams would head to the recess with the Bobcats holding on to a 3-1 lead. It was the second straight half the Bobcats allowed just one goal after giving up just one in the opening minutes of the second half against Mount St. Mary's.

The Bobcats scored just 27 seconds into the second half when Katie Latonick found Kelly Bruneau for her first goal of the game.

Wagner's Bright kept her team in it with her second goal of the match to make it 4-2 Bobcats at 28:53.

Led by Katie Latonick's hat trick, Quinnipiac responded with four straight goals. Katie Latonick first scored on a free position shot at 24:53. Just 45 seconds later, Jamie Zeitler set up Katie Latonick for her second straight goal. Kelly Bruneau followed with an unassisted goal at 23:42.

Entering today's game without a multi-goal performance on her resume, Katie Latonick completed the first hat trick of her career at 20:37 to put the Bobcats in command at 8-2. She completed the hat trick in a span of just 4:16. Fiore was credited with her third helper of the game which matched a career high.

Bright scored her third goal of the game on a free position shot to make it 8-3 in favor of the Bobcats and Krista Malayter made it a four-goal game when she scored with 6:46 left on the clock.

Bruneau completed the hat trick with 2:26 left to play. Katie Latonick was credited with the assist and set a career high with her fifth point of the game on the play. It was Bruneau's third hat trick of the season.

Bright scored her fourth goal of the game with nine ticks left on the clock, but it proved to be too late as the Bobcats came away with the 9-5 victory.

Quinnipiac's Hannah Nelson made 10 saves on 15 chances and was credited with the win. Even though she is just a freshman, Nelson is now tied for third on the program's all-time career wins list with Kate LaBreck. Wagner's Alex Johnston stopped eight of the 16 shots she faced and was credited with the loss. She was relieved by Amy Jones who made five saves on six chances.

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2007-04-07