SALISBURY, Md. - The third-ranked Salisbury
University women's lacrosse team started its season on a cold and
rain filled Wednesday afternoon at Sea Gull Stadium and came away
with an 18-8 victory over Christopher Newport University.
Salisbury (1-0) continues its two current winning streaks as the
Sea Gulls hold a 41-game home regular-season winning streak (since
the 2003 season) and have won 23-straight regular-season games
(since the 2007 season).
Senior All-American Jessica Chmielewski led the
way with four goals and two assists. Fellow senior midfielder
Courtney Sorenson added four goals and senior
All-American Robyn Bishop scored twice and passed
out one assist at midfield. On attack, junior Kim
Cudmore netted three goals and two assists
while junior Beth Rhodey scored twice and
added an assist.
SU scored the game's first seven goals before the Captains (0-1)
got on the scoreboard 16 minutes in on an Alyssa Burke (two goals)
goal assisted by Shayna Sargent (one goal, one assist). The Sea
Gulls responded with four goals the final two coming from
Chmielewski with four minutes left in the half. CNU scored
back-to-back goals in 12 seconds off the stick of Meghan Harkey
(two goals, one assist). SU took an 11-3 lead into the half.
In the second half, SU scored five of the first six goals to
take a 12-goal lead, 16-4, with 17 minutes left in the game. SU
outscored CNU 7-5 in the second half.
For the game, SU outshot CNU 35-16 and won 16 draw controls
compared the Captains' 12 draw controls. Salisbury was a perfect
11-for-11 on clears and scooped up 17 ground balls. Both teams went
3-for-6 on free-position shot attempts.
SU senior goalie Sonja Stuart made five saves
in 44 minutes of work before being relieved by sophomore
Julie Ann Caulfield, who closed out the game for
the maroon and gold. CNU goalie Gayle Robinson stopped nine SU
shots in the loss.
SU will next be in action on Sunday, February 22, when the Sea
Gulls begin their Capital Athletic Conference schedule with a road
contest in Frederick, Md., against Hood College at Noon.
