SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A torrid start for the Skidmore College women's lacrosse team was enough, opening 2019 on the right foot after a 14-7 victory over Babson, in the season opener Saturday at Wachenheim Field.
 
Skidmore wins its second straight season opener and have won six home openers in a row. Babson drops its first contest to fall to 1-1.
 
Amanda Orvis was on fire offensively, scoring a career-high five goals to lead the Thoroughbreds. She converted on both free position attempts and added two ground balls. Emily Hirsch picked up right where she left off last season with three goals, winning nine draw controls and causing two turnovers. Shelby Boland scored a pair of goals and added three assists. Cas Szwajkowski added a goal and two assists, causing a turnover and adding five draw controls. Anna Boogaerts also tallied three points, adding two goals and an assist. Lilla Seymour also scored, with Natalie LaBeau and Abby Sanford adding an assist each. Zoe Rafalowski-Houseman also caused two turnovers.
 
Caroline Kenlon was solid in net, stopping 10 Babson shots to earn the victory.
 
Lexi Lenaghan tallied four points on three goals and an assist to lead the Beavers. Sophia McCann, Coco Creedon, Riley Buonagurio, and Georgia Salvatore also scored. Salvatore also added an assist. Cricket Fligor made 11 saves in the loss.
 
The Thoroughbreds dominated the first half, hitting Babson with a nine-goal haymaker to take a 9-0 lead into the half. Skidmore controlled everything in the first half, outshooting the Beavers 21-6, forcing Babson to go just 7-of-13 on clear attempts while racking up 13 turnovers. Skidmore also won eight of 11 draws in the period.
 
Hirsch completed her hat trick with a pair of goals to begin the second half, as Skidmore went up with an 11-0 lead. Babson got on the board at the 21:18 mark, as Lenaghan opened the Beaver scoring. The Thoroughbreds struck back two minutes later with a Seymour goal, taking a 12-1 lead. Babson attempted to make it a game, scoring four straight goals in a 4:24 span to trail 12-5.
 
Orvis provided the answer for Skidmore, improving on her hat trick with a pair of goals to take a 14-5 lead. The Beavers finished the scoring with two more goals for the 14-7 final.
 
Skidmore outshot Babson by a 31-21 margin and won 17-of-24 draws. Skidmore went 14-of-17 in clear attempts, while Babson went 17-of-23.
 
The Thoroughbreds continue their season-opening three game home stand on Tuesday, hosting Utica at Wachenheim Field at 7 p.m.