MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team opened up a large lead early and eased its way to an 18-3 victory over the visiting Mountain Lions from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.

For the fourth consecutive season, Saint Anselm moves to 2-0 with the non-league victory. UCCS drops to 0-1 on the season on its East Coast trio of games. Tuesday's game was the first between the two teams.

Junior Jess Sullivan (Wrentham, Mass.) matched a career-high mark with nine points, reaching that milestone for the first time since Mar. 5, 2022 at home against Southern Connecticut State. She fired 12 of her team's 41 shots in the convincing victory.

Senior Taylor Cobain (Wrentham, Mass.) also chipped in with three goals and four assists for seven points, reaching a career-high in helpers, and classmate Julia Silk (North Andover, Mass.) scored her first collegiate goal late in the first half.

Saint Anselm scored the game's first eight goals and eventually opened up a 13-1 lead at halftime. Junior Alison Ferullo (North Andover, Mass.) had four of her team's eight strikes and Sullivan had four points on two goals and two assists in that span as well.

In the second half, senior Lexi Palmisano (Woburn, Mass.) struck for three of her team's in a row with Sullivan and Cobain adding one more goal apiece. Junior Erin Doyle (Weymouth, Mass.) and sophomore Samantha Rivet (Sudbury, Mass.) also added goals throughout the game in the winning effort.

The Hawks finished with statistical edges in shots on goal (30-to-10), ground balls (16-to-14), and draw controls (16-to-7).

The goalkeeping tandem of Elizabeth Driscoll (Marblehead, Mass.) and Tess Froio (Hull, Mass.) made seven saves on 10 shots. Doyle caused a team-best four turnovers and picked up five ground balls in what was a strong defensive game.

Saint Anselm returns to action Saturday, Feb. 25, traveling to D'Youville for a 12 p.m. showdown. The Saints are competing in the first full season as an NCAA Division II program in 2023.