Virginia Beach, Va. – First-year head coach Erin McDonnell opened up her first season as a collegiate head coach with a dominating road win over Virginia Wesleyan College Saturday afternoon. The St. Mary's College of Maryland women's lacrosse team posted an 18-7 victory over the Marlins in the season-opener for both teams.

Senior midfielders Tori Poffenberger (Sharpsburg, Md./Boonsboro) and Shelby Newman (Hampstead, Md./Manchester Valley) started off their final campaign off on the right foot with a pair of hat tricks. Poffenberger contributed game-highs of four goals and five points while Newman added three goals and one assist.

St. Mary's (1-0) broke an early 1-1 draw with a 6-0 run to stake a 7-1 advantage at 17:06. Poffenberger and Newman each scored two in the run while junior midfielder Erika Kopf (Annapolis, Md./Annapolis) chipped in a goal and an assist. Kopf would finish the game with two goals and an assist. The Seahawks outscored Virginia Wesleyan, 3-2, in the final 10 minutes for a 10-3 halftime advantage.

Sophomore midfielder Megan Schallock (Waukesha, Wis./Mukwonago) paced the Marlins with three goals while first-year midfielder Liza Holford (Smyrna, Del./Smyrna) contributed two goals.

Another 6-0 run by St. Mary's in the second half put the game out of reach for Virginia Wesleyan. The Seahawks tallied six straight in less than five minutes to post a 17-5 lead with 9:39 left in the game. Six different players found the back of the net for St. Mary's during the run.

The Seahawks dominated shots by a 39-16 margin while outhustling the hosts in ground balls, 25-15. Newman and senior captain Kate Somerville (Baltimore, Md./Notre Dame Prep) helped win the loose ball battle with four ground balls each.

Virginia Wesleyan (0-1) edged the Seahawks in draw controls, 15-12, as Holford and Schallock each won seven draws.

A solid defensive effort by St. Mary's led to 32 turnovers by the Marlins. Newman led the defensive charge with six caused turnovers while Somerville and sophomore attacker Gabby Beese (Towson, Md./Notre Dame Prep) each forced four miscues.

Senior captain Kayla Dunn (Rockville, Md./Good Counsel) made five saves in 48 minutes while first-year Emma Brown (Warwick, N.Y./Warwick Valley) recorded her first collegiate save in the final 11 minutes. For VWC, senior Madison Carroll (Leonardtown, Md./Leonardtown) hung tough in goal with 15 stops.

The Seahawks will return to action on Wednesday, February 24 when they host No. 16 Washington and Lee University in their home-opener at 3:00 p.m.

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