WINCHESTER, Va. – Shenandoah University earned its first USA South Conference women's lacrosse victory of the 2007 season by downing Averett 19-6 Sunday afternoon.

Shenandoah (3-5, 1-3 USA South) got six goals and one assist from junior Arissa Malick and four goals and four assists from senior Kelly Matagiese to hold back the Lady Cougars (1-6, 0-3).

SU scored the first three goals of the game and eight of the first nine to take an 8-1 lead by the 4:39 mark of the first. Matagiese had four goals and one assist during this run while Malick had three goals.

After AU scored its second goal on Christine Muders unassisted tally at 4:11, Malick scored twice, Sara Humphreys once and Lauren Carpinelloone time to send the hosts into the halftime lockerroom with a 12-2 lead.

Freshman Jen Franco made the lead 11 goals with her conversion of a Courtney Beard feed 47 seconds into the second half, and the Hornets were able put in cruise control the rest of the way.

Shenandoah outshot its visitors 41-26 and owned a 25-14 advantage in groundballs.

Matagiese led all scorers with the eight points on four goals and four assists with Malick's six goals topping that category. Franco matched Matagiese with four goals while Humphreys added three and Carpinello two.

Darcie Jones had three goals for Averett.

Box Score 

SU hosts regional power Washington & Lee Wednesday in a non-league match.