We got our first taste of Division III women’s lacrosse action this past weekend, and while there weren’t enough results to warrant an update to the Nike/USA Lacrosse Division III Women’s Top 20, let’s recap the de facto opening weekend of the season.

As a reminder, check out our Preseason Top 20.

SALISBURY OPENS STRONG

The defending Division III national champions might have started with a resounding 15-5 victory, but the Sea Gulls’ path to victory didn’t clear until the second half.

Stevenson fought valiantly in the first half, as Caroline Murphy scored each of her four goals in a first half that saw Salisbury lead 5-4. Lily Cavallaro gave the Gulls the lead just before halftime.

Stevenson’s McKenna Blick tied the score at 5 with 13:37 left in the third quarter, but that would be the last time Salisbury surrendered a goal. The Gulls turned it on, scoring the final 10 tallies of the game — highlighted by two goals each in that stretch from Erin Scannell and Meridith Price. Scannell and Delaney Hill tied for the team lead with three goals.

Despite the early back-and-forth, Salisbury ended the game with a 38-19 advantage on shots. They took just shy of half of those shots (16) in the third quarter alone.

Mary Claire Hisle made seven saves, and Scannell recorded three ground balls. Lydia McNulty corralled two ground balls. McNulty, Hill, Price, Alexandra Parker and Caroline McKenna each caused a turnover.

HOW THE NIKE/USAL TOP 20 FARED

No. 1 Salisbury defeated Stevenson 15-5

FULL SCOREBOARD

Alma 19, Cleary 12
Berry 16, Piedmont 6
Birmingham-Southern 19, Hanover 3
Birmingham-Southern 15, Transylvania 6
Centre 19, Wittenberg 11
Huntingdon 15, Brenau 4
Oglethorpe 17, Pfeiffer 7
Otterbein 17, Transylvania 4
No. 1 Salisbury 15, Stevenson 5
Virginia Wesleyan 13, Methodist 10

Chowan vs. William Peace, Postponed