BANNER ELK, N.C. — A strong start fueled the UVA Wise women's lacrosse team to a season-opening 18-3 victory over Lees-McRae on Thursday afternoon at Tate Field.

UVA Wise (1-0) throttled their way to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter. Freshman newcomer Caitlyn Schultz snagged her first collegiate career goal at the 13:17 mark to get the action started while Cavs fifth-year veteran Katie Allen drove her way to back-to-back goals all before the 9:00-minute mark.

Leading scorer Abby Stoffelen put up her first goal of the afternoon in the sixth minute of play with the help of Taylor Thompson — who would then swipe in a goal less than two minutes later. Freshmen Ashley Fisher and Logen Davis also joined the club, making their first marks as Cavaliers in the first quarter. With another goal from Schultz at the 2:22 mark, the Cavs' lead grew to 10-0.

The UVA Wise lead only grew as Grace Golatt and Issie Brown trickled in an unassisted goal each in the second quarter. At the break, the Cavs had a 12-0 lead with junior Olivia Toomer in goal completing a first-half shutout with four saves.

Lees-McRae (0-1) made their first run in the third quarter as Genesis Lutsky snuck in a free-position Bobcat goal at the 13:26 mark. Cavalier defense and Jordan Edwards in goal would hold Lees-McRae away from scoring position until the 53-second tick as Ireland Manning put up the second Lees-McRae goal before the end of the third.

Mallory Trimble solidified a 14-goal lead after four minutes expired in the fourth. Manning responded with another goal at the 6:27 mark for Lees-McRae but Kaila Lacey and Fisher each made their way to the scoring column with three minutes to go in the contest to solidify the 18-3 triumph.

"It's such a good feeling to be able to get every player in and see so many make a positive impact during the game," Head Coach Meghan Dennehy said. "We had a ton of different players score goals with handful assisted. Big team win."

Stoffelen led the way with a hat trick while Schultz, Allen, Trimble, Fisher, and Thompson each put in a pair. Golatt and Brown each headlined the 2023 season start with four draw controls each.

In addition to Toomer in goal, Addie Donalson tallied two saves in the fourth quarter while Edwards grabbed one of her own in the third.

UVA Wise outshot the Bobcats 26-12, and had a 23-12 groundball edge. Lees-McRae had 25 turnovers to UVA Wise's 21.

Up next, the Cavaliers stay in North Carolina to face the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on Saturday, Feb. 11 with a 3 PM start.