ELKINS, W.V. – The Malone University women's lacrosse team had to battle the elements as well as Davis & Elkins College on Saturday afternoon in the team's season opener. The Pioneers (1-0) were victorious by a score of 11-9 over the Senators (0-1).
 
After missing the 2024 season, redshirt junior Cam English opened 2025 by scoring the team's first goal to go up 1-0. Freshman Alana Samek and sophomore Abbey Burns also scored in a 3-2 first period for Malone.
 
A back-and-forth second period saw the Pioneers take a 5-4 advantage into halftime. Freshmen Samantha Williams and Meg Ridgway netted their first collegiate goals as well in the second.
 
Malone came out of the break red-hot and fired off three consecutive scores within the first two minutes of the third quarter. Each of the first period scorers repeated their performances. Samek and Burns' second goals of the day both came on man-up opportunities. Davis & Elkins added two late scores to cut into the Pioneers' lead.
 
The Senators drew to within one at 8-7 in the opening minute of quarter number four, but Ridgway made a free-position attempt count for a man-up score to increase the lead. Freshman Lexi Miller found sophomore Olivia Marcantonio to make it 10-7, but Davis & Elkins fought back in the final minutes.
 
The opponents rattled off two straight to get back to within one-goal with 1:16 remaining in the contest, but Malone held on to the ball late and scored an insurance goal with 11 seconds on the clock for the 11-9 victory.
 
English's three goals led the team and Samek matched her with three points (two goals, one assist). Davis & Elkins won draw controls 17-6 and ground balls 27-12, however could not come away with the win thanks to a great effort defensively by goalie Summer-Jo Grieser (1-0). She tallied 12 saves in net.
 
The Pioneers welcome the Bethany College Bison to King Field for the team's first home game on Wednesday, February 19 at 4:00 P.M.