ARLINGTON, Va. - The Marymount University women's lacrosse team opened up the 2020 slate on Saturday afternoon at Long Bridge Park, cruising past Virginia Wesleyan University with a 19-11 decision behind behind nine different goal scorers.

With five different hat tricks in the game by the Saints, they used an eight-goal run in the first half to put away the game early. 

A slow start had MU overcoming a quick 2-0 deficit in the first two minutes. However, in a matter of a minute and a half, three-straight goals by the Saints put them out ahead for the first time. Sophomore Emily Peters went unassists on the first finish of the season and was followed closely with two more lone finishes by senior Madison Davis and freshman Riley Love for her first collegiate goal. 

The Marlins answered with two goals of their own to reclaim the advantage, but that fueled the eight-point stretch for the Saints over 14 minutes to have an 11-4 lead with seven minutes left in the half. In the run, Peters completed her hat trick of goals, while Davis and Love added another each. Senior Eliana Cassel contributed two of her three goals for the day in the stretch, and sophomore Sarah Agrillo and freshman Erin Cannon each added one. 

With an 11-6 lead at the half, the Saints outshot the Marlins through the first 30 minutes, 23-13, while forcing them into 13 turnovers.

A similar offensive tenacity showed in the second half with MU outshooting Virginia Wesleyan again, 23-14. It quickly started in the opening eight minutes off the restart, as Agrillo put away two-straight to complete her hat trick then sent out an assist to Love to solidify her hat trick. 

Later in the half, sophomore Taylor Young earned her first goal of the season and was followed with the first collegiate goal for freshman Kaleigh Dunham to put the Saints up, 16-7. Two more unassisted goals were scored almost five minutes later by Cassel and Davis, each sealing up their hat tricks, to give MU a double-digit advantage and begin the running clock. 

In the closing seconds of the game, the final touch was put on the home opener when sophomore Liza Ervin went unassisted for the 19th goal of the day. 

Agrillo led the offense for the day with four points on three goals and an assist. Defensively, the Saints registered eight caused turnovers led by sophomore Caitlyn Dunn with a game-high and career-high four. Dunn and Dunham teamed up to combine for eight ground balls as well, as the team finished with 20. 

Senior Meagan Gagnon earned her first win of the season between the pipes, making 11 saves through 60 minutes of play.

The Saints continue at home on Wednesday, February 26, hosting Hood College for a 4 p.m., start.