BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian University women's lacrosse team jumped out to a 5-1 lead over rival Muhlenberg College; however, the Mules scored nine of 13 second half goals to defeat the Greyhounds, 19-14, in non-conference action on John Makuvek Field Wednesday afternoon to begin the 2023 season.

How It Happened

• Muhlenberg netted the opening goal of the game before Moravian sophomore attack Jackie Salvatore scored the Hounds' first goal of the year with 9:33 left in the first quarter. Salvatore's goal started a 5-0 run for the Blue & Grey with senior midfielder Megan Donnelly netting a goal, graduate student attack Brittany Bill scoring twice and senior attack Devin King hitting the net for a 5-1 edge with just over five minutes to go in the opening quarter. The Mules stopped the run, but Donnelly and Bill scored in the final minute of the period as the Greyhounds led 7-2 after 15 minutes of action
• The second quarter saw 11 goals scored between the squads with Muhlenberg putting eight markers in the net to pull the score even at 10-10 at the intermission
• King started the second half with a goal as Moravian moved back in front, 11-10, and the Blue & Grey were leading 12-11 after sophomore midfielder Alex Cherenson found the net. However, the Hounds would go over 15 minutes without scoring as the Mules scored five times to hold a 16-12 edge through 45 minutes of play
• The fourth quarter saw the Mules outscore the Greyhounds 3-2 over the final 15 minutes of the contest

Inside the Numbers

• Moravian had five different players score with Bill netting a team-high five goals to go with a pair of assists, four draw controls, two ground balls and two caused turnovers in her first match in a Greyhound uniform
• Cherenson and Donnelly each had hat tricks with Donnelly adding eight draw controls and a pair of caused turnovers while King contributed two goals, an assist and three ground balls. Salvatore added a goal, three assists and four draw controls
• Senior goalie Brelyn Friedman made four saves in the first 30 minutes of the contest while senior goalie Rylee Soltis recorded four saves in the second half
• Junior defender Keara Reilly added three ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers while freshman midfielder/defender Gianna Lotito scooped up two ground balls
• Both squads had 17 ground balls in the contest, and the Greyhounds were 12-for-16 on clears in the match

Up Next for the Greyhounds

• Saturday, February 25 vs. FDU-Florham, 1:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, February 28 vs. Bridgewater (Va.) College in Hilton Head, S.C., 11:00 a.m.