WEST HAVEN, Conn. - Paced by four goals and two assists from senior Kathryn Campbell (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield), the nationally-ranked No. 6 University of New Haven women's lacrosse team defeated No. 14 Dowling 19-8 Wednesday evening at Kayo Field. The win gives New Haven its eight consecutive victory in season openers and its fifth straight victory in its home opener.

The Chargers were also led by five points from both Maya Szymanski (Framingham, Mass./Framingham) and Courtney Ackland (Perth, Western Australia/Churchlands) who both scored three goals and handed out two assists. Nicole Belanger (Kinnelon, N.J./Kinnelon) added four goals and Caitlin O'Brien (Branford, Conn./Branford) finished with three. Junior Corinne Fisher (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) tallied a goal and an assist, while Devin Previte and Lindsay Lare (Cape May, N.J./Lower Cape May Regional) both recorded a point.

Belanger also contributed a team-high four ground balls, while Campbell won five draw controls. Sophomore Hannah Johnson (Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand) led all Chargers with three caused turnovers in addition to three ground balls. In goal, Alyssa Gianotti (Monkton, Md./Hereford) and Marissa McDermott (Longmeadow, Mass./Wilbraham & Monson Academy) each played a half with Gianotti taking the victory with a team-best three saves.

Dowling (2-1) was led by four goals from Jackie Andersen and a pair from both Allie Merrill and Katie Meinecke.

The Chargers led 31-21 in shots and 17-10 in ground balls, but Dowling held a 16-13 advantage in draw controls. UNH was good in transition with 9-of-10 clear attempts successful.

Dowling scored the game's first goal just 47 seconds into the contest. The Chargers responded with six unanswered goals, including a pair of unassisted goals from Szymanski. The Golden Lions battled back with four of the five goals, cutting the UNH lead back to two, 7-5, with 9:52 left in the first half. The final three goals of the stanza were scored by the Chargers in the final nine minutes to secure a 10-5 lead at the break.

The Chargers' pressure continued in the opening five minutes of the second period with three unanswered to begin the half, including two from Campbell. Dowling's sixth goal of the game came from Merrill with 22:11 left. The seven-point deficit was the closed of the final minutes for Dowling as the Chargers' continued to separate themselves down the stretch. UNH scored another five to take an 18-6 lead with just under 10 minutes remaining. The teams exchanged goals in the final eight minutes and New Haven earned an 11-point victory to open its 2015 season.

The Blue and Gold return to action on Saturday, March 7 when American International travels to Kayo Field for the Chargers Northeast-10 Conference opener. Game time is slated for 1 p.m.