BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – The No. 8 University of New Haven women's lacrosse team opened up the 2018 season on the road at Bridgeport on Wednesday, earning a convincing 20-4 win over the Purple Knights in non-conference action.  
 
Junior Makenzie Reh led the Chargers with a career-high six goals and also picked up seven ground balls. Also with a career-game on the day was senior Jessica Mazliah (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem North), who set a school-record nine assists which was one shy of tying the fourth-most in NCAA Division II history. Sophomores Kendra Nolan (Oak Ridge, N.J. /Jefferson Township ), Caroline Maher (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield), and Julia Jette (Franklin, Mass./Franklin) each had a hat trick, and junior Samantha Galler (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) and Mazliah each net two goals for New Haven.
 
New Haven dominated on draw controls, 22-3, with the advantage 17-0 at halftime in favor of the Chargers. Sophomore Kendra Nolan (Oak Ridge, N.J. /Jefferson Township ) pulled down 10 draw controls, while classmate Raven Linton (Lawrenceville, N.J./Notre Dame) added seven. New Haven also outshot the Purple Knights in the duel, 36-14. Sophomores Erica Rinsky (North Caldwell, N.J./West Essex) and Gianna Guerra (Thiells, N.Y./North Rockland) split time in between the pipes, with Rinsky getting the start and earning the win.
 
Bridgeport broke through first on a free position goal, but the Chargers took over with Nolan netting two-straight goals, both assisted on by Mazliah. Under a minute later, Mazliah found Reh for her first goal of the season as New Haven extended its lead, 3-1, just 10 minutes into the game. The Blue and Gold continued to dominate with six-straight, as Mazliah scored her first before Jette added two goals in under 30 seconds. Maher scored next, and Galler scored twice in 16 seconds. Bridgeport scored under the halfway mark in the first stanza, but New Haven struck with a five-goal burst within a five-minute stretch to lead the Purple Knights, 14-2, at the midway point. After the halftime break, New Haven added six more goals in the final 30 minutes, with Reh adding three more during the final frame.
 
The Chargers return to action on Sunday, March 11 in the Sunshine State for a pair of games, first with a conference game against Assumption in Davenport, Fla. before taking on LIU Post in a non-conference game at the Disney Wide World of Sports.