Feb. 14, 2009

Box Score | Photo Gallery

PITTSBURGH - Notre Dame's Gina Scioscia scored four times and added three assists to lead the Fighting Irish over the Duquesne lacrosse team 22-7 on Saturday afternoon in the both team's season opener.

The Dukes were led by Meghan Frederick who recorded a hat trick and registered one assist. Shannon Hadaway, Sarah Carson, Ashley Wood and Katie Rekart added goals for DU.

The Irish, ranked 12th in the nation, led from start-to-finish scoring the first three goals of the game until Frederick set up Hadaway for DU's first score of the match.

Carson's goal at 9:58 would be Duquesne's only score during a UND flurry which saw them go on to score nine of the next 10 goals to take a commanding 12-2 at the 5:55 mark of the opening half.

Frederick and Wood would score back-to-back goals at 4:17 and 3:05 respectively. Notre Dame would answer with a pair of goals before Frederick's second goal of the afternoon closed out the first half scoring with UND was ahead 14-5.

The second half began with seven straight Notre Dame goals to put them up 21-5. Duquesne finally found the back of the net at 6:42 when Frederick completed her hat trick with 6:42 to play. Rekart (with an assist from Alicia Krause) scored three minutes later before the Irish's Jillian Byers ended the scoring for the afternoon with Notre Dame taking the 22-7 road victory.

Caitlin Carducci and Sara Beckstead split time at keeper, each playing one half.

Notre Dame dominated in the shots category, 49-18. They also led 12-9 in ground balls and 15-12 in draw controls.

The schedule will get tougher for Duquesne as they welcome the four-time defending champion Northwestern Wildcats to Rooney Field on Tuesday. Game time is at 1:00 p.m.