FAYETTEVILLE, NC (Feb. 27) - The Saint Vincent women's lacrosse team opened the 2016 season with a 16-5 road loss at Methodist University in North Carolina.

After giving up two goals to start the game, sophomore Maggie Nelson quickly responded back with a pair of scores to tie the contest at 2-2 with 17:41 left in the opening half of play.

Methodist would then rattle off the next five goals to take a 7-2 lead late in the half before Nelson answered with another score, cutting the deficit to 7-3 at halftime. Nelson added her fourth score of the day when she found the back of the net 23 seconds into the second half, bringing SVC to within three at 7-4.

From that point, the host team took control, scoring the next eight goals to strengthen the lead to 15-4. Senior Helena Shoplik tallied the final goal of the day for SVC as the Bearcats dropped the 16-5 decision.

Methodist held a 29-16 advantage in shots, a 15-8 margin in draw controls and a 14-7 advantage in ground balls.

Freshman goalkeeper Maria Franey made six saves in her first collegiate start in net.

The game was the first of three for the Bearcats on their spring break trip, which continues against Capital University in Clermont, Fla. on Wednesday, March 2. Start time is slated for 11 a.m.