Bethlethem, PA -- Loyola University Maryland opened its conference season on Saturday, riding a dominant first half and a dominant control of the draws to a 21-11 victory over Lehigh University.
The Greyhounds (1-1 overall, 1-0 Patriot League) scored eight times in the opening quarter and never trailed, repeatedly turning extra possessions into goals while silencing early pushes from the Mountain Hawks (0-1).
Ava Kane led the way with three goals and two assists, Elisa Faklaris added four goals, and Mim Suares-Jury finished with three goals and an assist as Loyola placed 12 players in the scoring column. Morgan Quade had two goals and two assists, and Morgan Ruhnke scored twice.
Loyola set the tone immediately. After Kacie Wines scored the game's first goal for Lehigh, the Greyhounds ripped off three straight and then closed the period with a 5-0 burst in the final four minutes. Kane's strike with 29 seconds left made it 8-3 after one.
The surge continued in the second. Loyola scored six of the first seven goals of the quarter, cashing in repeatedly on player-up opportunities. Anna Kaplan, Lauren Perfetto and Faklaris all found the cage during the run, and back-to-back man-up tallies from Quade and Delaney Jackson stretched the margin to 14-5.
Possession was the story throughout behind Mae Murphy's work on the circle, the Greyhounds dominated draw controls 27-7 and finished with a 45-22 advantage in shots. Murphy finished with 17 draw controls in the win.
Lehigh received five goals from Nina DeNicola and two from Shannon Nolan, but the Mountain Hawks (0-2 overall, 0-1 Patriot League) were forced to chase for most of the afternoon.
Kane helped Loyola keep that cushion intact in the third, scoring twice in a three-minute span, and the lead grew to as many as 12 in the fourth before the teams traded late goals.
Makenzie Butler earned the win in goal for the Greyhounds, stopping one shot in her half of action, while Kennedy Buntrock made two saves before the break.
Delaney Jackson and Ava Kirkwood both scored their first career goals on the afternoon, while Jackson also added an assist.
Cydney Lisk and Morgan Quade led the team with two caused turnovers each, while Quade led the team with three ground balls.
Loyola will host Florida on Tuesday at noon for their home opener at Ridley Athletic Complex.
