MANSFIELD, Conn. – The Eastern Connecticut State University women's lacrosse team reeled off the first 19 goals of the match over the first 39 minutes and rolled to a 21-4 victory over Castleton University Saturday afternoon in the Little East Conference opener for both schools at Rick McCarthy Field.

Eastern (6-1) scored at least 20 goals for the sixth time this year in defeating Castleton (1-4) for the seventh time in this seven-game series.

Eleven different players contributed a point, with sophomore defender Payton Shannon (Vernon) recording her first points with a goal nine minutes into the second half that made it 19-0 and an assist with 12 minutes left that set up the team's 20^th goal. First-year junior transfer defender Bree O'Connor (Rocky Hill) added her first career point with an assist seven minutes into the second half.

First-year sophomore Chloe Miller (Avon) led Eastern with five goals and two assists, with senior Tristan Kijak (Windsor) adding three goals and two assists. Chipping in four points each were sophomore team scoring leader Caroline Stent (Weatogue), senior Sydney Hogan (Northford), and sophomores Jessie Pyrek-Bennett (Monroe) and Shay Ventresca (Oakdale). With two assists, Hogan moved into 13^th place all-time in career assists (36).

Kijak won five of the team's 16 draws and Stent four.

Sophomore Sarah Gallagher (South Windsor) needed only two first-half saves to record her fourth win in five decisions and post a first-half shutout. Sophomore Nicole Gaston (West Haven) made four saves in the second half.

Castleton, which has lost four straight after an opening victory, got two assists, nine draws, six ground balls and three caused turnovers from sophomore Lacey Greenamyre, who also committed 11 of her team's 28 turnovers.

Eastern plays the second of three straight conference matches Wednesday when it visits Massachusetts Dartmouth at 6 p.m. before travelling to meet three-time defending LEC playoff champion Plymouth State University Saturday at noon.