NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- The Yale women's lacrosse team broke open a close game in the second half at George Washington Saturday afternoon, reeling off nine straight goals to turn an 8-5 lead into a 17-5 lead and eventually a 17-7 win. Seven different Bulldogs scored goals, and four had hat tricks -- including a career-best four-goal day for senior midfielder Lauren Wackerle. In addition to netting their best single-game goal total since an 18-6 win vs. Quinnipiac Feb. 25, 2015, the Bulldogs committed only seven turnovers (their lowest total since Apr. 11, 2015) and shot .607 (their best shooting percentage since Mar. 28, 2014).

"This was just an overall excellent team win," said Erica LaGrow, Yale's Joel E. Smilow, Class of 1954 Head Coach of Women's Lacrosse. "Every member of the team had the opportunity to compete in practice and contribute on the field. We had all seven people on the offensive end move well together and do the things that don't show up in the stat sheet. I'm very happy with the progress we're making."

The low turnover total is even more impressive given that in the Bulldogs' last game -- a 13-7 loss at No. 10 Stony Brook -- they had committed a season-high 20.

"We put an emphasis on possession," said LaGrow. "We wanted to make sure we took care of the ball. The players executed well and worked together to limit our turnovers."

Wackerle helped Yale get off to a good start, as she scored three of her team's first four goals and assisted on the other (by junior attacker Hope Hanley). After junior attacker Tess McEvoy scored on a free position shot, Yale had a 5-1 lead 10 minutes in.

"Lauren started strong for us today," said LaGrow. "She did a great job of driving, and finishing her shots."

George Washington (1-5, 0-0 Atlantic 10) started to battle back by scoring the next two goals, but Yale stopped that mini-run after junior defender Emily Markham nabbed the draw control following the second GW goal. Following a yellow card on the Colonials, sophomore midfielder Lily Smith set up sophomore midfielder Madeleine Gramigna for a goal at 16:21. Less than five minutes later, sophomore midfielder Emily Granger utilized a free position attempt to score her first goal of the year, putting Yale ahead 7-3.

Yale (3-4, 0-1 Ivy League) did not have its first turnover of the game until just less than 10 minutes remained in the first half. Shortly after that, midfielder Jocelyn Donahue scored to pull the Colonials within three. GW then had multiple chances to get closer before halftime, but within a span of 20 seconds sophomore goalie Sydney Marks denied a free position attempt by midfielder Gabbi Hull, then reacted quickly to stop a shot from point-blank range by Donahue.

Yale then pulled away early in the second half. After a pair of goals by Smith and one by sophomore midfielder Taryn Gallagher helped make it 10-5 with 21:31 to play, the Bulldogs subbed in an entire new defensive unit -- senior defender Flannery Carney, junior defender Marisa Cresham, junior midfielder Sophie Mussafer, junior defender Ashley Perselay and freshman defender Eliot Schulte -- and kept rolling.

"The group that went in second on defense did a great job," said LaGrow. "They practice hard every day. It's exciting to have that type of depth."

Gallagher set up Hanley for a goal, and McEvoy scored twice in a span of 29 seconds to make it 13-5. That gave McEvoy her fifth hat trick in the season's first seven games. Goals by Wackerle and Smith (for her first career hat trick) then got the game to running time with the score 15-5 and 12 minutes to play. Granger tacked on a pair (for her first career hat trick) before GW scored twice in the final two minutes to make the final 17-7.

Granger and Smith both finished 3-for-3 and were a big part of Yale's excellent shooting.

"Each game we build confidence in our shooting and our stick work," said LaGrow. "These players take ownership of that shooting percentage. They also watch a lot of film in order to select the right shots."

Marks made seven saves before freshman goalkeeper Allie Carrigan came in to make her varsity debut and play the final 1:23. The game also marked the varsity debuts for Schulte, sophomore attacker Emma Dunne and junior defender Gretchen Tarrant. Tarrant joined the team shortly after wrapping up her third season playing ice hockey for Yale last month.

Four different Bulldogs had assists -- two each for Gallagher and Wackerle and one each for Hanley and Smith. Senior attacker Nicole Daniggelis contributed nine draw controls, helping Yale to a 16-10 advantage in the draw circle.

"Nicole has been tremendous on the draws," said LaGrow. "She gave us a lot of opportunities."

Yale returns to New Haven to host Brown next Saturday (1:00 p.m., Ivy League Digital Network).

Report by Sam Rubin '95 (sam.rubin@yale.edu), Yale Sports Publicity