WENHAM, Mass. – The Eastern Connecticut State University women's lacrosse team continued to overwhelm its opponent from the start, scoring the first nine goals for the second straight match on the way to a 20-6 non-conference victory over Gordon College Wednesday afternoon at Brigham Complex.
 
The road win is the third straight to open the season under first-year head coach Dee Stephan season for Eastern (3-0), which has built a combined 43-6 halftime lead in its three matches and has outscored its opponent 64-14 over 180 minutes this year.
 
 The Warriors opened the season by scoring the first 18 goals against Mitchell College and has opened with 9-0 bursts in each of their last two matches.
 

Before the match was 11 minutes old Wednesday, first-year sophomore transfer Jessie Pyrek-Bennett (Monroe) scored five times, first-year sophomore transfer Caroline Stent (Weatogue) and freshman Kaylee Drobish (Wallingford) twice each, and senior tri-captain Tristan Kijak (Windsor) chipped in four assists to stake Eastern to its 9-0 lead.
 
Eight players contributed a goal or assist in the game. Pyrek-Bennett finished with six goals and two assists (11-7 on the season), Kijak one goal and five assists (7-8), Stent five goals and one assist (14-3) and senior Sydney Hogan (Northford) three goals and an assist (6-5).
 
Making her first career start (fourth appearance), sophomore Sarah Gallagher (South Windsor) made one save and left with a 12-4 halftime lead for her first career victory. Sophomore Nicole Gaston (West Haven) made two saves in the second half.
 
In addition to scoring, Stent had five ground balls, won four draws and caused four turnovers; Kijak won seven draws and had a ground ball; senior tri-captain Alexa Jacobson (Marlborough) contributed five ground balls and caused four turnovers; and Drobish added six ground balls and won two draws.

Eastern's defense improved its clear defense to .457 by forcing turnovers on six of Gordon's 15 attempts. This year, the offense has successfully cleared .875 percent (35-of-40) of its attempts.
 
Lena Larson and Katelyn Dyer each scored twice and combined for 11 draws for Gordon (0-2), which fell to 0-3 all-time against Eastern.
 
Eastern visits first-time opponent Skidmore College in the Thoroughbreds' season-opener Saturday at 4 p.m. in a non-conference match before making its home debut Sunday against New England College at 1 p.m. at Rick McCarthy Field.