SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Pfeiffer (2-0, 1-0 CC) dominated Converse (1-2, 0-1) in its Conference Carolinas opener on Saturday afternoon, winning by a final score of 19-1. Ashleigh Kassab recorded a hat trick in the first 13 minutes of play and finished the afternoon with four goals and one assist. Pfeiffer scored 15 unanswered goals during the final 52:18 of game time and held the Valkyries to five shots.
Kassab got the Falcons on the board just under two minutes into the game on as she took a feed from Sarah Daly and beat the goaltender. Daly, Chalance Morrison and Gracie Herbert scored the next three goals before Converse added its first and only score of the contest. With Pfeiffer up 4-1, Kassab and Daly combined for another score, before Kassab netted her third goal at the 17:02 mark. Pfeiffer pushed the lead to 10-1 on a goal from Morrison and then scored twice in a nine second span before halftime to take an 11 goal lead into the break.
In total, 12 Falcons found the back of the net in the game. Daly, Herbert, Cheyenne Green and Morrison each scored twice as Pfeiffer scored its most goals in a game since March 23, 2013 when the Falcons defeated Mount Olive 20-2.
Kristina Anderson dished out three assists and Erika Mackenzie had two helpers. Daly finished with four points on the afternoon.
Kassab paced the Falcons in ground balls, scooping up four, while Katherine Athens had five draw controls.
Pfeiffer caused 11 turnovers on the defensive end and only committed five turnovers on offense.
For the game, Pfeiffer took 39 shots to five from the hosts and held a commanding 25-7 advantage in ground balls.
Alex Guercki took the loss in goal, allowing 12 goals. Rachel McCarthy improved to 2-0 on the season as she stopped two shots.
