SPARKILL, N.Y. - The Saint Anselm women's lacrosse team opened the 2010 season with a bang this afternoon, cruising to a 17-4 victory over the Saint Thomas Aquinas Spartans.  Meghan Smith (Pittsford, N.Y.) and Lauren Alfis (Hanover, Mass.) led the Hawks in scoring, combining for nine of the Hawks' 17 goals.  The win starts the Hawks a 1-0 (0-0 NE-10), while the Spartans begin 0-1 (0-0 ECC).

Freshman Lauren Alfis started her career on the right foot today, scoring four goals and five assists for nine goals in her varsity debut.  Meghan Smith notched five goals of her own and added an assist.  Team captain Tia Karon (Medford, Mass.) scored a goal and three assists, and junior Emily Traicoff (Beverly, Mass.) put down two goals and an assist.  Freshman Bryanna Hayes (Mansfield, Mass.) scored two goals in her first career game, and fellow-rookie Carrie Brophy (Mansfield, Mass.) netted her first career goal.  Senior Alyson McDonough (Brunswick, Maine) scored a goal and an assist for the Hawks and junior Leigh Krzyston (Bedford, N.H.) recorded a goal and two assists.  Shawna Walsh (Woburn, Mass.) and Meghan Schilling (Middletown, R.I.) each added an assist for the Hawks.

Junior goalkeeper Katherine O'Hara (Norwell, Mass.) started in goal for the Hawks, making 11 saves and allowing three goals to pick up her first win of the season.  Megan Sullivan (Braintree, Mass.) made one save and allowed one goal in her first career appearance in the net for the Hawks.

The Hawks return to action tomorrow afternoon when they travel to Rockville Centre, N.Y., to take on the Lions of Molloy College in a nonconference game beginning at 4:00 pm.