ANNVILLE, Pa. (March 8, 2019) - Sophomore Olivia Chaoush and senior Caroline Pape each scored four goals as the FDU-Florham women's lacrosse team topped Lebanon Valley 14-12 in the season-opener Friday.

The Devils offense had a pair of quality chances to score in the opening five minutes, as a shot by Pape rang off the post while classmate Kathleen Petrucelli had an attempt saved. The Dutchmen broke through the games first tally 7:47 into the game, but FDU responded three minutes later. Off a successful clear, Chaoush notched her first goal of the afternoon. After corralling the ensuing draw, sophomore Hannah Bhend gave the Devils a lead 49 seconds later off a feed from Pape.

FDU continued the scoring, with junior Madison Wood scoring 13 seconds after the Bhend goal, with Pape also collecting an assist. The Dutchmen had the next two scoring attempts but were thwarted thanks to a pair of saves of senior Megan Nemeth. Chaoush completed the hat-trick midway through the stanza, recording the next two Devil goals.

LVC didn't go away, recording four of the next five markers as the first half wound down. Pape had the Devils lone tally during the spurt, as the hosts closed to within a goal at 6-5. With just one second remaining in the first half, Pape tallied a free-position goal as the Devils went into halftime with a 7-5 advantage.

FDU held a 15-13 edge in shots during the opening half, while each side registered seven clears in the first 30 minutes.

Lebanon Valley leveled the game at seven just 1:37 into the second frame, scoring twice within 13 seconds. The two sides would trade the next four goals, as both Pape and Bhend registered unassisted goals. The game remained level for the next eight minutes before the Devils broke the game open with four consecutive tallies. Chaoush and classmate Mia Michaelides scored in a 47-second span before junior Aliyha Elk netted a free-position goal with 8:48 left. Michaelides capped off the run four minutes later with an unassisted goal, her second of the game.

LVC would get within one before Pape closed out the Devils scoring with 2:39 remaining, putting the team in front 14-10. The hosts scored two goals in the final two minutes to draw closer, but Nemeth snared a free-position attempt, and senior Leah Eble caused a turnover to give the Devils the victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Chaoush recorded a career-high in both goals and points, breaking her career-high of three goals set last year against Eastern.
• Michaelides recorded her first multi-goal game of her career.
• Pape matched her career-high of seven points, set in the regular season finale last year against Misericordia. The senior also tallied three assists and four draw controls in the win.
• Nemeth made 11 saves while adding in a team-best three ground balls.
• FDU forced the Dutchmen into committing 21 turnovers.

UP NEXT
The Devils will play a pair of games next week in Tennessee, taking on Sewanee and Rhodes. FDU will play Sewanee Monday at 4 p.m. before battling Rhodes Thursday at 3:30 p.m.