WISE - - UVa-Wise used a strong second half to down preseason Mountain East Conference favorite Wheeling Jesuit 14-10 in women's lacrosse action at Smith Stadium Friday night. McKayla Grasham scored three of her game-high five goals in the second half as the Cavaliers stormed back from an early 6-3 deficit to win their league opener.

UVa-Wise (7-4, 1-0 MEC) scored the final goal of the first half and carried the momentum over the second half with a flurry of goals. By the time Meghan Dennehy's team stopped scoring it had turned a 6-3 deficit to an 11-6 lead with 16:53 to play.

Wheeling Jesuit (2-9, 0-1 MEC) cut the lead to four on a Paige Orbell goal with 13:29 to play only to see Grasham counter with her fifth goal of the night to run the lead back to five with 10:57 remaining.

The Cardinals would get to within three with 9:38 to play when Taylor Booth followed a Kate Calder goal to make it a 12-9 contest.

It would be as close as the visitors would get as Riley Finster and Kristin Gobbi each scored unassisted goals before WJU's Markie Wright scored for the final margin of 14-10.

Grasham wasn't the only Cav to record a hat trick in the win as Kristin Gobbi netted a trio of goals, Jesse French scored twice.

Jessica Apgar led the way on defense with six groundballs and five caused turnovers as UVa-Wise won its league opener for the third consecutive season.

Orbell paced the Cardinals with four goals while Brianna Whale led all players with seven groundballs.

The Cavs won 18 of the 24 contested draw controls and turned it over just 17 times in the win. It was the team's first win over Wheeling Jesuit since the formation of the league.

Next up, Notre Dame College will be at Smith Stadium Sunday for another league contest.