WINCHESTER, Va. – The Shenandoah University women's lacrosse team opened up its 2018 season Saturday morning with a 17-7 non-league victory over Hood College.

Sophomore Cassie Arndt gave the Hornets (1-0) the lead for good with her goal off of an Alyson Bittinger assist at the 26:26 mark; Arndt's tally was one of four that her squad had in the first 10 minutes of the contest.

The final three goals of this opening run, by Arndt, Nikki Zerna and Abby Zorrilla, all came via free position.

Zorrilla, thanks to an Arndt assist, and Annie McCorry completed this opening spurt with goals at 19:03 and 17:42, respectively.

The Blazers (0-1) scored two of the final three goals of the first half, sandwiching a Bittinger tally at 7:10 with goals at 7:49 and 3:26.

The two teams traded the initial four goals of the second half before Shenandoah put the game away by scoring eight of the final 11 tallies of the contest.

McCorry led the victors with six points on three goals and three assists with Zorrilla adding four goals and both Arndt and Zerna with three goals and one assist.

Bittinger rounded out the multiple goal scorers for the Hornets with two goals and one assist.

Shenandoah outshot the Blazers 37-27, had a 45-29 advantage in groundballs and won 17 of the game's 25 draws.

SU also was successful in 13 of its 17 clearing attempts while breaking 15 of Hood's 28 clears.
Maddie Albornoz had 12 saves in the winning effort.

"It was a nice win to start the season," head coach Lindsey Lutz said. "It was a great way to get it started and a good base to build on moving forward."

The Shenandoah women are back in action on Wednesday in a non-league game at Mary Washington.

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