UR Women's Lacrosse defeats Occidental in 2026 opener
Credit: goredlands.com
The University of Redlands Women's Lacrosse team (1-0, 1-0 SCIAC) opened their 2026 season with a road Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) victory Saturday morning cruising past Occidental College, 12-6.
It was head coach Sean Hansen’s first win at the helm for U of R’s lacrosse team since succeeding former coach Suzette Soboti, who transformed the team from a club program to varsity in 1999.
Just over four minutes after the opening whistle sophomore April Bryant (Danville, California) made it 1-0 Bulldogs. Following a Tiger goal, junior Ruby Czajkowski (Charlotte, North Carolina) sparked a 4-0 run that included a second Bryant goal and two additional scores from Czajkowski as Redlands held a 5-1 advantage with 12:52 on the clock in the second period.
Occidental ended the run with their second goal, but once again Redlands responded with another surge, this time scoring three straight as senior Emily Webster (Ladera Ranch, California) went back-to-back followed by senior Cailin Walker (Portland, Oregon) jumpstarting the second half with a goal :30 seconds after the opening draw control.
The two sides traded two goals each down to the 3:48 mark of the third with senior Jacqueline Landucci (San Mateo) and Czajkowski finding the back of the net.
The Tigers scored the final tally of the third and the first of the fourth to pull within five, 11-6, with 14:25 still to play, but the Bulldogs' defense held them scoreless the remainder of the game and Czajkowski assisted Webster for the final of 12-6.
Czajkowski led the way with five points thanks to four goals and an assist. Bryant and Webster each had a hat trick. Webster's first goal was the 21st consecutive game she has scored in, tying her for the fifth-longest streak in program history that dates back to April of 2024.
Courtney Myers (sophomore, Gig Harbor, Washington) got the start between the posts and made six saves across the full 60:00 minutes in goal.
Redlands hosts Chapman University for their second straight conference game at Farquhar Field on Wednesday, Feb.18 at 7 p.m.