The Shippensburg University lacrosse team scored the first six goals on Tuesday in its 2020 season opener and held host Georgian Court scoreless for a 25-minute stretch of the second half in defeating the host Lions, 15-6, on a pleasant afternoon in New Jersey.
 
Five Raiders scored multiple goals in the season opener, with junior Alana Cardaci, sophomore Hannah Seifried and sophomore Gabby Savarino each recording hat tricks. Sophomore Hannah Raines and senior Kami Holt each scored twice, while junior Jena MacDonald and sophomore Sydney Costanza each contributed one goal and one assist.
 
Raines scored on a free position just 27 seconds into the game that jump-started a 6-0 SU run, Georgian Court (0-2) countered with four straight goals, but Savarino's third strike of the first half came just 35 seconds before halftime and gave the Raiders a 7-4 lead at the break.
 
Shippensburg scored eight straight goals to start the second half and held the Lions scoreless in the second half until there was just 4:31 remaining.
 
Freshman goalkeeper Ally Weneta keyed the Raider defensive effort with 12 saves in her collegiate debut, including eight in the first half. Redshirt-sophomore KiKi Brasher was credited with one save over the final 8:54. Cardaci had two caused turnovers, while Savarino paced the Raiders with three groundballs.
 
Draws were 13-10 in Shippensburg's favor, with junior Jessica DeMarte and Seifried each recording four controls for the Raiders. Savarino had three draw controls. DeMarte also added an assist in the contest.
 
The game was effectively a flip of the script from last season's matchup, a 19-12 victory for Georgian Court in a game played at Robb Sports Complex. The Lions got a hat trick Tuesday from Madison Heck and seven second-half saves from Alexis Hahn.
 
Shippensburg hosts IUP at 1 p.m. Saturday in a non-conference matchup at Robb Sports Complex.