BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Senior attack Marissa Yowell (Ashland, Mass.) and junior midfielder Melissa Renauld (Framingham, Mass.) tallied six goals apiece to lead the Bridgewater State University women's lacrosse team to a season-opening 17-9 victory over visiting Mount Holyoke College on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field.
Renauld added an assist to her six goals as she posted a game-high seven points to go along with seven ground balls, three controlled draws and four caused turnovers. Five of Yowell's six goals came in the first half.
Head Coach Erica Adams picked up a win in her debut as the Bears' new skipper.
Senior attack Julia Bell (Longmeadow, Mass.) paced the visiting Lyons with five goals, while classmate Catherine Ryan (Longmeadow, Mass.) dished out a game-best six assists.
Junior netminder Allie Forman (Marblehead, Mass.) made ten saves between the pipes for the Bears who held a 34-22 shot advantage as well as a 19-9 edge in draw controls.
Leading 6-5 with 11 minutes remaining in the first half, Bridgewater closed out the stanza with four straight goals to take a 10-5 lead into the intermission. Yowell and Renauld notched two goal apiece during the run.
The Lyons held the Bears scoreless over the first 14 minutes of the second half. Three goals by Bell, including two assisted by Ryan, as well as a free position strike by sophomore midfielder Leila Kouakou (Leeds, Mass.) closed the gap to 10-9.
Mount Holyoke, however, would not score again.
Forman made two key stops after the Lyons made it a one-goal game. The Bears then countered with a 7-0 run, powered by a three-goal effort from Renauld, to close out the contest. Sophomore attack Gabby Reinold (Braintree, Mass.) also scored twice during the outburst while Yowell and freshman midfielder Elizabeth Ettridge (Marshfield, Mass.) tallied a goal apiece.
Ettridge finished with two goals and two assists for four points in her first collegiate game, while junior attack Alex King (North Weymouth, Mass.) chipped in with a goal and a pair of helpers.
Senior midfielder Lauren Geary (Hull, Mass.) led all players with 11 draws. Geary now has 473 for her career which ranks fourth all-time in Division III history.
Junior goaltender Isa Rodriquez (Columbus, Ohio) turned aside ten shots in the setback for the visitors.
Both teams are back in action next week. The Bears (1-0) entertain UMass Dartmouth on Tuesday afternoon at four, while the Lyons (0-1) host Westfield State University on Wednesday at 5:00 PM.