Raven Women's Lacrosse opened their 2022 season on Saturday with a solid win over a fellow NAIA-ranked opponent.

No. 6 Benedictine scored six unanswered to open the game with No. 9 Concordia (Mich.) University and never looked back en route to a 23-4 win over the Cardinals. 

Margaux Gelbach scored the first goal of the game for Benedictine, her first career goal as a Raven, inside the first four minutes of the first quarter and by the end of the opening quarter, the Ravens led 7-1. Back-to-back goals from Clare Ryan, the second of which happened just inside 8 minutes remaining in the second quarter pushed the Ravens advantage to 10 goals kicking in the running clock for the remainder of the game.

Benedictine held Concordia scoreless through the enter second and third quarters and extended the scoring drought for the Cardinals into the final seconds of the game when they allowed a goal inside the 10 seconds remaining.

The rAvens held a 39-11 advantage in shots. Natalie Wechter led the Ravens with 7 goals and 2 assists. Aiden McEnerney added 5 goals and 1 assist, Gelbach finished with4 goals while Ryan finished with 3 goals and 2 assists. Erica Odell added 2 goals and led the Ravens with 3 assists. Rianna England and Elizabeth Conley scored a goal each while England and Grace Simonson finished with the remaining two assists.

Gianna Stelleti earned the win in goal. She finished with two saves in just over 38 minutes of play before Quincy Dolan finished out the final 21 minutes of the game.

Benedictine held a 24-5 advantage in draw controls as Odell led the way with 11 followed by Wechter with 6. Odel also led the Ravens in caused turnovers with 3 as the Ravens finished the game causing 11 of the 18 turnovers for the Cardinals.

The Ravens open up defense of their KCAC title on Feb. 26 when they host Midland University in their conference opener back on Legacy Field.