Box Score

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Shannon Farden scored four goals and three other players had hat tricks to lead No. 10-ranked Belmont Abbey to an 18-11 win over East Stroudsburg University in lacrosse action on Thursday afternoon in Charlotte.

Sophomore Molly O'Hara scored four goals for the third time in her career and sophomore Michelle Mangiaruga had three goals for the second straight game to open the 2009 season.

Belmont Abbey (4-2) scored the first seven goals of the game and led 11-4 at halftime before ESU (0-2) rallied to push the nationally-ranked Crusaders throughout the second half. Freshman Jessica Curran scored her first career goal 32 seconds into the half and Mangiaruga and sophomore Christine Bradley netted goals to make the score 12-7.

The Warriors scored three straight goals within 2:08 after Belmont Abbey reestablished a seven-goal lead. O'Hara had her third goal of the game and sophomore Morgan Knowles scored twice in a 15-second span to bring ESU within 14-10. O'Hara's last goal with 26 seconds made the final score 18-11.

Bradley and junior Jamie Wesztergom both had two assists and Knowles also notched an assist for the Warriors. Senior Kirstin Mayberry played all 60 minutes in goal and made 13 saves.

ESU opens PSAC East action on Tuesday against Kutztown at 4 p.m. at Whitenight Field.