SALISBURY, Md. – Stevenson women's lacrosse opened the spring 2023 campaign on the road at Salisbury University, notching a loss to the Seagulls early Saturday afternoon in Sea Gull Stadium.
 
While the Mustangs recorded 10 total shots to the Seagulls' 33, the defense remained on point, with 10 saves to the Seagulls' six. The first of the Mustangs two goals came in the second quarter at less than a minute after the seventh Sea Gull goal. Junior midfielder Kara Yarusso saw the back of the net off a free position shot. The second goal arrived near the end of the third quarter from sophomore attack Hannah Zimmer. The Mustangs had 18 turnovers to the Sea Gulls' eight and picked up nine total ground balls to the Sea Gulls' 17.
 
FIRST QUARTER
With three shots in the opening period, the Mustang' first attempt came just under two minutes in. Isabelle VanEmburgh found the opportunity but the shot was saved by the Sea Gulls. Mustang goalkeeper senior Sophie Shucosky notched her first save of the season off an attempt two minutes later. The first goal of the game followed shortly, as the Sea Gulls recorded their first score of the season. The Mustangs had two more attempts from freshman attack/ midfield Marisa Massimini and first year attack Caroline Gebhard. The first was off target and the following shot seconds later was saved. The Sea Gulls went on to score three more goals, ending the opening quarter on top 4-0.
 
SECOND QUARTER
The Sea Gulls found 12 shooting opportunities in the second period, and were quick to add two more goals to the board, hopeful for a shut-out to end the half, but the Mustangs' first goal came from Yarusso just under halfway into the period. The Sea Gulls notched two more goals, ending the half 9-1 following the lone yellow card issued to Sea Gull graduate student attack Emma Skoglund.
 
THIRD QUARTER
With a turnover early in the third, the Mustangs temporarily kept the Sea Gulls at bay until about six minutes in when the home team hit double digits. Yarusso followed with a saved shot just minutes after the tenth Sea Gulls goal. Zimmer scored the second and final goal for the Mustangs with 48 seconds remaining, but the home team scored the 12th goal with three seconds remaining. The score for the third was 12-2.
 
FOURTH QUARTER
The Sea Gulls had two attempts about six minutes in the final period before their second-to-last goal of the afternoon. Stevenson had a pair of attempts, but Salisbury topped off the afternoon with the final goal at just under 1:30 remaining, ending the game with a 14-2 lead.
 
UP NEXT
The Mustangs finish the day with their first loss of the season and are now 0-1, while Salisbury is 1-0. Stevenson will host their home opener on Saturday, Feb. 18 against Gettysburg College at 1 p.m. The Sea Gulls host Catholic University next Saturday at 3:30 p.m.