PITTSBURGH – The St. Bonaventure women's lacrosse team used an impressive offensive performance to earn their second conference victory of the season, defeating Duquesne 16-15 in a road matchup Wednesday afternoon.

With this victory, the Bonnies improve to 2-1 in A-10 play, matching their best start in conference since the 2010 season.

Kassi Hogan, Jessica Notaro and Brooke Piper all recorded hat tricks with Piper posting a team-high five points. Abby Hiltz (2-2-4) also had four points for the Bonnies (4-6, 2-1 A-10)

Duquesne (1-8, 0-3 A-10) got on the board quickly, as Delaney Rodriguez-Shaw connected on a shot just 30 seconds into the game.

But the rest of quarter would be all Bonnies, as Abby Hiltz, Kassi Hogan, Brooke Piper and Courtney Fox would all find the back of the net to give the team a 4-2 advantage at the end of the first.

St. Bonaventure continued its offensive attack to start the second period, as fellow first year players Notaro and Megan Schillinger connected on assisted shots to increase the lead to four.

But Duquesne responded with two goals of its own, coming from Mia Failla and Mackenzie Leszczynsk.

Goals from Piper and freshman Grace Hollenbeck would give the Bonnies an 8-4 advantage, before Duquesne would use three unanswered goals to cut the lead to one.

But St. Bonaventure would enter half on a high note, as Hogan beat the buzzer from 20 feet out to give the Bonnies a 10-7 lead into the break.

The third period would go the Dukes' way, as the hosts used a 4-1 run to tie the game at 11 apiece midway through the quarter, capped off by a goal from Dukes attack Delaney Rodriguez-Shaw.

The Bonnies would start to shift the momentum late in the third, as senior Nora Anderson took a backdoor pass from Abby Hiltz and put it past the Dukes goalkeeper to give the Bonnies a 13-11 lead.

St. Bonaventure would use that goal to propel a 4-0 run to take clear control of the game.

Duquesne attempted a comeback late in the fourth, scoring three straight goals, including the game's final goal with one second left, but it was too little, too late.

Wednesday's game marked the first time the Bonnies have had three players record hat tricks in game since an 18-17 overtime victory against Detroit Mercy last season. It was the first time a trio of Bonnies have achieved the feat in the Atlantic 10 game since a 2018 contest at Duquesne.

Fiona McGovern, Nora Anderson, Megan Schillinger, Grace Hollenbeck, Courtney Fox, and Abby Hiltz all found the back of the net, while Jordan Rokitka, Brit Colangelo, Piper, Fox, Hiltz and Hollenbeck all assisted.

On the defensive side of the ball, Caroline Yoder, Brooke Cicoria, Hiltz, and Colangelo all used multiple groundballs the stifle the Dukes attack.

In the cage, Senior Ashley Herrick earned the victory by collecting 12 saves on the day.  

Duquesne was led by Mackenzie Leszczynsk (six goals, one assist), Delaney Rodriguez-Shaw (six goals, one assist) and Chelsea Evans (two goals). 

Mady Piersielak made 12 saves in net for the Dukes.  

The Bonnies will return home to battle nationally-ranked UMass on Saturday. Start time is set for 1:00 p.m.
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