2018 Campaign Begins at UC Davis for Women's Lacrosse

DAVIS, Calif. - On Sunday afternoon, the No. 22 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's lacrosse team opened the 2018 season on the road against UC Davis. The Athenas hung with the Aggies throughout the game, but UC Davis used a big second-half to claim the 13-6 victory. CMS freshmen accounted for five of the six goals the Athenas scored on the afternoon.

Sally Abel (CMC) scored three goals on three shots to lead the Athenas' offense on the day. Abel also picked up four ground balls and won three draw controls.

The Aggies opened the scoring just 30 seconds into the contest, but Abel and the Athenas countered less than two minutes later. Corie Hack (CMC) forced a turnover and, after a successful clear, Allie Hill (CMC) connected with Abel for the Athenas' first goal of the season. With the game tied 1-1, UC Davis scored the next four goals to take a 5-1 lead 12 minutes into the game.

Abel broke the Aggies momentum with her second goal of the game off a pass from Evan Murphy (CMC) with 16:34 remaining in the first-half. After a goal from the Aggies, Eloise Shields (SC) scored an unassisted goal for her first career tally to make it a 6-3 game with 13:10 left in the half.

A goal from the Aggies made it 7-3 before a nearly 12 minute scoreless stretch between the two sides. Abel ended the half with her third goal of the day off an assist from Corie Hack. Abel's goal capped off the scoring in the half and made it a 7-4 game at the break.

After the half, UC Davis put through three-straight goals to take a 10-4 lead. Back-to-back goals from Hack and Blaire Southmayd (CMC) cut the lead back down to four at 10-6. The Athenas were held scoreless for the final 18 minutes and UC Davis scored the final three goals of the game to earn the 13-6 victory.

Despite the 13-6 final, the Athenas were outshot by just four at 28-24. CMS forced a total of 30 turnovers and committed just 23 of their own, but UC Davis had the upper hand in draw controls. The Aggies earned 15 draw controls compared to six by the Athenas.

CMS will be back in action when they open SCIAC play at Occidental on Wednesday against the Tigers at 5:30 p.m.