Box Score

NEW LONDON, Conn. --  The Eastern Connecticut state University women's lacrosse team scored goals on its first three shots after winning the first three draws and went on to a 23-3 non-conference season-opening win over Mitchell College in its first match under new head coach Dee Stephan.

Featuring five first-year transfers in the starting lineup, Eastern led 18-0 at halftime on the strength of a 26-3 shot advantage. Eastern was perfect on all 13 of its clear attempts in the game– turning the ball over only 13 times.

Senior Tristan Kijak (Windsor) won two of the first three draws and first-year sophomore transfer Caroline Stent (Weatogue) won the third, leading to three goals on its first three attempts over the first 1:20.

The active career leader in assists, senior Sydney Hogan (Northford) had four assists and three goals for a team-leading seven points.

Stent, who scored one goal in three matches last year at Division II Stonehill College, led Eastern in goals, with five, and added and an assist and won a game-high eight draws. In her first college match after transferring from Division I Central Michigan University, sophomore Chloe Miller (Avon) added four goals and two assists, as did Kijak. The active career leader in goals and points, Kijak moved to within four points of 100 in her career. By winning the opening draw, Kijak became the 13^th player in program history with as many as 100. She also caused three turnovers.

Also contributing their first collegiate goals were first-year sophomore transfer Shay Ventresca (Oakdale) and freshman Kaylee Drobish (Wallingford). Ventresca, who played last spring at Division I Wofford University, scored twice and had an assist, while Drobish chipped in with a goal in the final three minutes of the first half. Junior Aiyana Ward (Waterbury) had a team-high four ground balls.

In her first collegiate start (fourth appearance), sophomore Nicole Gaston (West Haven) stopped five shots to gain her first win in her first decision.

Mitchell (0-2) is in its eighth year on the intercollegiate level.

Eastern visits the University of Saint Joseph (CT) Saturday at 3 p.m. in a non-conference match. USJ downed Mitchell, 22-8, Saturday.