NEW CONCORD, Ohio (Feb. 23)- The Saint Vincent women's lacrosse team fell in their season opener 23-11 at Muskingum on Sunday afternoon.

The Bearcats (0-1) scored the opening goal of the game, but were outscored 11-6 in the first half. Muskingum (3-0) went on to outscore Saint Vincent 12-5 in the second half as well to hand the Bearcats the loss in the season opener.

Bailey Nicely led Saint Vincent six goals on nine shots on goal for the Bearcats. Nicely also recorded one caused turnover as well. In her Bearcats debut, Katie Smith added two goals, while Valeria Hurtado, Carolina Walters, and Gabby Salandro all scored once in the loss. Smith also added three ground balls, while Hurtado totaled three as well. Hurtado and Kara Smith had the lone assists on the day for Saint Vincent.

Nicely opened the game getting the Bearcats on the board first converting with a man up to put SVC up 1-0 less than three minutes into the match. Muskingum quickly answered, scoring the next four goals in a less than two minute span to put the Muskies up 4-1. Nicely answered with her second goal of the quarter, this one coming on an assist from Kara Smith as the Bearcats cut the lead to 4-2.

Muskingum added two more goals before the quarters end to take a 6-2 lead into the second quarter.

The game was much more back-and-forth in the second quarter. Muskingum scored 42 seconds into the quarter to take a 7-2 lead, but the Bearcats answered with two consecutive goals. Hurtado scored her first of the game and Walters followed with a goal on an assist from Hurtado to cut the lead to 7-4. Over the next four minutes and change, the Muskies outscored SVC 4-0 to increase their lead to 11-4.

Nicely added two more goals before the quarter break to cut the lead to 11-6 at the half.

It was all Muskingum in the third quarter as the Muskies outscored the Bearcats 8-2. Nicely and Katie Smith were the Bearcats two goal scorers in the quarter, but they trailed 21-8 heading into the fourth.

Muskingum closed the game out by outscoring the Bearcats 4-3 in the fourth quarter as well. Salandro, Nicely, and Katie Smith were SVC's goal scorers in the quarter.

The Muskies out shot the Bearcats by a 50-21 margin. Saint Vincent was 9-20 on clears, while Muskingum was 11-12.

Saint Vincent will now return home to take on Mount Aloysius in their home opener on Wednesday, February 26. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. under the lights at UPMC Field.