BOX SCORE

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (Mar. 3) - The Saint Vincent women's lacrosse team opened the 2014 season with a 17-12 non-conference road win at Methodist (N.C.).

Thanks to the 12-goal outburst in the first half, the Bearcats start the season 1-0 for the third-straight year. Methodist falls to 1-5.

Saint Vincent and Methodist were scoring goal for goal to begin the game as the first three Bearcat scores were answered by the Monarchs. At the 18:32-mark of the first half freshman Sarah Wallerstedt scored her second goal of the game, unassisted. Just 13 seconds later, Helena Shoplik scored on a free position shot to put SVC ahead 5-3.

After a Methodist score, Molly Snyder and Natalie Ambrozic scored within 65 seconds of one another as Kaley Burkardt assisted on Snyder's goal and Snyder assisted on Ambrozic's score, 7-4.

The Monarchs got the game within one goal after a pair of consecutive tallies, but Wallerstedt and Snyder pushed the lead back to three goals within a minute at the 6:51 mark.

With the score 10-8 in the closing minutes, Wallerstedt and Snyder scored in the final 1:23 to send the Bearcats to a 12-8 halftime lead.

The Bearcats put the game away with four-straight goals in the second half. Ambrozic, Shoplik and Maggie Garvey (two goals) found the back of the net during that span to put SVC ahead, 16-9, with 7:10 to play.

Methodist added three goals down the stretch and Garvey capped the scoring at the 1:29-mark to make the final 17-12.

Both teams took 25 shots in the contest, with the Bearcats holding a 10-7 margin in the second half. Wallerstedt led SVC with eight shots and Garvey added six.

Snyder posted a team-high seven points (three goals, four assists), while Wallerstedt totaled five goals in her debut. Garvey (three goals) and Burkardt (three assists) each notched four points.

SVC will be back in action on Wednesday, Mar. 12, traveling to Thiel in what will be a re-match of last season's inaugural Presidents' Athletic Conference championship game. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.