INDIANA, Pa. - The IUP women's lacrosse team raced out to an early lead and used a strong third quarter to cruise to a 17-2 win over Ashland in the season opener Friday at Miller Stadium.

The Crimson Hawks scored six first quarter goals and six more in the third, while shutting out Ashland in the second half. 

Who stood out
Jr. Jordan Kulp: two goals, four assists, three ground balls
So. Chantal Jimenez: three goals, one assist, three draw controls
Fr. Brenna Whiteside: three goals, one assist, four ground balls
So. Sarah Reustle: two assists, eight ground balls, six caused turnovers
Sr. Chloe Borland: one goal, two assists, four ground balls, one caused turnover

How it happened
The Crimson Hawks' first goal of the season came 44 seconds into the game as Reustle fed Kulp on a give-and-go play in front of the net. IUP ran off five more goals in the opening quarter, including two by Whiteside, to take a 6-0 lead. 

Ashland scored two of the next three goals to cut its deficit to 7-2 but goals by a pair of IUP freshmen - Whiteside and Demi Hecker - gave the Hawks a 9-2 lead at halftime.

Jimenez scored the first three goals of the second half, all over a 2:41 span, to put IUP on top by 10 at 12-2 with 10 minutes still left in the third. The Hawks added three more goals in the quarter and two in the fourth to close out the win.

Up next
The Crimson Hawks host Bloomsburg on Saturday, March 5 at 2 p.m.

Follow
For coverage of the IUP women's lacrosse program, follow the Crimson Hawks on Twitter and Instagram @IUPlacrosse and online at IUPAthletics.com.