FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Women's Lacrosse team opened their season in convincing fashion with a 16-5 home win over Lewis on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Bobcats got out to a hot start, scoring a pair of goals in the first two and a half minutes, with senior Lilly Stephens and freshman Neila Haney getting themselves on the scoresheet in FSU's opening two possessions. The Flyers also scored on their first offensive possession, making the game 2-1 just under three minutes in.
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Nicole Gray came up with the game's first save after Lewis won the resulting draw control and from that moment, Frostburg's defense was locked in while the offense found its stride again. Junior Camden DeMaio scored a goal either side of a man-up free-position opportunity converted by sophomore Kerri Hayes to put the Bobcats up 5-1. Haney got her second goal of the period with less than two minutes left, followed 50 seconds later by junior Anna Kearney for a 7-1 score line after one.
 
Kearney opened the second with another score, then Hayes also got her second goal a minute later to put FSU ahead 9-1 with 12 to go in the half. Senior Cammie Schniedwind kept the offense rolling with her first of the afternoon before Haney completed her hat trick and Stephens put another goal away to end the half with a running clock and a 12-1 advantage.
 
The third quarter began with both defenses stepping up and not allowing a goal through the first five minutes, which was finally broken with Kearney getting her third goal. The Flyers fought back and captured momentum through their defensive effort, holding Frostburg scoreless for almost eight minutes while adding a pair of goals to get within 13-3.
 
DeMaio responded with the goal of the game, catching a feed from sophomore Brittyn Leonard and uncorking an underhand shot mid-spin that wowed the Bobcat Stadium crowd. Lewis ended the quarter with the final goal as the clock ticked under a minute, taking the sides into the fourth with Frostburg leading 14-4.
 
The Bobcat defense shut down the Flyers offense throughout most of the fourth quarter, as freshman Emily Lamoreaux and sophomore Julia Badolato added goals for a 16-4 lead. Lewis finally broke through after 14 total minutes without finding the net, getting the last goal of the game with two minutes remaining for the final 16-5 score.
 
Haney, Demaio, and Kearney all scored three goals apiece, while Stephens and Hayes both netted a pair and Schniedwind finished with a game-high two assists. Lamoreaux and senior Maura O'Neill tied for the team lead with four draw controls each, as the defense combined for nine caused turnovers and allowed just 12 shots the entire game.
 
With the victory, Frostburg begins the year 1-0, while Lewis falls to 1-1. The Bobcats return to the field Saturday, March 4 for a road game against Shippensburg at 12 p.m. Information and updates will be posted at frostburgsports.com.