Grand Rapids, Mich. — When you are in a transitional season, the scoreboard fails to recognize the progression. Under first-year Aquinas Head Coach Marvin Hardy, the Saints are already showing noticeable improvement over last year. What really could help, however, would be win number one. Two hard-fought, close losses to start the season, followed by a tough match-up with Lawrence Tech on Monday, had the Saints searching for the medicine that only a victory can provide.
Wednesday night, the doctor was in — and the medicine was flowing.
Aquinas 24, Columbia 3
From the opening draw, Aquinas made it clear this night would belong to the Saints. Addison Munn wasted no time getting things started, scoring the game's first goal less than a minute into the contest off an assist from Sophia Davis. Just seconds later, freshman Audrianna Lienhart added another, igniting an early surge that set the tone for the entire evening.
The Saints poured it on throughout the first quarter, with Violet Mead, Ayiana Pansang-Rangel, and Davis all finding the back of the net as Aquinas raced to a commanding early lead. Maizie Holmes proved nearly unstoppable during the opening frame, scoring three goals in the period and helping the Saints build a 10–1 advantage after the first quarter.
Aquinas continued the offensive showcase in the second quarter. Vanessa Bailey connected twice during the period, including a well-placed finish off a Lienhart assist, while Davis added two more goals to push the Saints' lead further out of reach. By halftime, Aquinas had built a comfortable 16–2 cushion and had firmly seized control of the game.
The Saints' attack showed impressive balance throughout the contest. Davis led the way with a seven-goal performance, while Holmes added four goals and two assists in an outstanding all-around effort. Lienhart and Munn each scored three goals, while Bailey contributed two goals and three assists to help orchestrate the Aquinas offense.
Violet Mead chipped in two goals of her own, and Lucy Dusseau-Thompson and Emma Dale each found the back of the cage as well, demonstrating the depth of the Saints' attack.
Beyond the scoring, Aquinas dominated in nearly every statistical category. The Saints fired 42 shots compared to just 10 for their opponent, controlled the pace of the game with 18 draw controls, and were perfect on clearing attempts, converting all 13 opportunities.
Defensively, Aquinas was equally sharp. The Saints forced 20 turnovers and collected 19 ground balls while limiting their opponent's scoring chances throughout the night.
In goal, Emersyn Gaitan earned the victory with three saves in the first half before Samaya Dean stepped in for the second half and added another save to help close out the win.
By the time the final horn sounded, the Saints had not only secured their first win of the 2026 season, but had done so in convincing fashion. More importantly, the performance served as a powerful reminder of the growth this team is showing under Hardy's leadership.
For a program building momentum and confidence, Wednesday night may very well prove to be exactly the prescription the Saints needed.
Inside the Numbers
• 7 — Sophia Davis led the Saints with seven goals and added an assist for an eight-point night.
• 42 — Aquinas unleashed 42 total shots compared to just 10 by their opponent.
• 18 — The Saints controlled possession with 18 draw controls on the night.
• 13-for-13 — Aquinas was perfect clearing the ball, converting every clearing attempt.
• 9 — Nine different Saints scored goals in the victory, highlighting the team's offensive depth.
Coach's Comments
Following the contest, Head Coach Marvin Hardy spoke about how proud he was of his team.
"Tonight our team showed that adversity only makes us stronger," Hardy said. "We made a commitment to improving our transition play and offensive execution, and that focus made a tremendous difference. This group is motivated to prove what we're capable of and to earn respect every time we step on the field representing Aquinas Women's Lacrosse."
Up Next
The Saints Women's Lacrosse team will spend the start of Spring Break on the road, beginning with a match-up against Franklin on Monday in Indiana. Aquinas will then travel to Wisconsin on Tuesday to face Lawrence before closing the trip back in Indiana with a contest against Marian.
We will have articles on these games and so much more on the AQ Athletic website. Don't miss out on any of the AQ athletic happenings. Stay up to date on all the action by regularly visiting AQSaints.com for full coverage, stats, and postgame recaps.
