GREENCASTLE, IN - Rachel Gutowski (Petoskey, MI/Petoskey) had yet another stellar performance for the Quakers scoring four goals in a 26-6 loss to DePauw on Wilmington's first out of state road game.

Sammy Koerner (Fairfield, OH/Hamilton Badin) and Sarah Watters (Cincinnati, OH/ Turpin) each added a goal each on the day for Wilmington.

The first half ended with DePauw taking a commanding 18-3 lead in to the break with their physically imposing and speedy play.

"(DePauw) was the most all around aggressive team and we weren't able to match their physical toughness as they checked hard, ran at the goal hard and we just had trouble protecting our sticks from their speed and physical play," said head coach Brett Yenger.

A significant factor to the disparate score is the team's inexperience playing on natural grass, which makes it tougher to pick up ground balls. Today's inclement weather on a natural grass surface didn't provide the most ideal playing conditions for the first-year program in the ground ball department.

"Winning and picking up ground balls is essential to getting on offense and we need to practice consistently on the fundamentals," said Yenger.

Another contributing factor in today's loss was the lack of pushing clears through the midfield and getting in the offensive zone. Winning the midfield battle is vital in getting offensive opportunities and although Yenger is satisfied with the attack and their offensive shot selection, she will be doing a lot of work with the defense and midfield to strengthen their ability to push the ball in to the offensive zone consistently with the hopes of controlling the tempo of the game.

"Right now we are not communicating enough when the midfield and defense are pushing clears because we are panicking a bit from the defensive pressure and not able to find open players which leads us to get drawn in to the opposing team's defensive traps," said Yenger.

A positive note for the Lady Quakers is as a new team they are doing well once they get in to their offensive set. The offense has done a good job in spreading out and making it tougher for the defense to help each other especially when the offense creates open lanes to penetrate a one-on-one drive to goal.

"We are improving and do a good job at protecting our sticks in their eight as we flustered their defense at times with how well we spread out in our offensive sets," said Yenger.

Aside from Gutowski's knack for scoring she has been the motor to the engine in the midfield with her defensive play.

Yenger said, "Gutowski is great at reading the play and positioning herself in breaking up the other team's attack and intercepts a great deal of balls as she plays center for us and gets up and down the field."

Sophomore Karalyne Brown (Somerset, NJ/Franklin) made a barrage of saves in goal today and picked up the slack when the defense let up and had open shots.

"I was happy with Karalyne in goal today because she made amazing saves consistently throughout the game, said Yenger. "Watters has been the most consistent for us in picking up ground balls and Koerner has contributed a lot on the defensive end as well as making the most of her chances in the attack."

Wilmington (0-5) seeks its first victory when they host Mount Union 2 p.m. Saturday at Charlie Gilhart Field.