PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The Neumann University women's lacrosse team returned to the field for the first time in over a year on Saturday afternoon, opening the 2021 campaign with a 12-7 non-conference win over host Chestnut Hill College.
 
Brylin Adams and Lindsay Fagan each scored three times for the Knights on the afternoon, while goalie Catriona Corrigan stopped 13 shots to pick up the victory in net.
 
After having its 2020 season ended abruptly due to the pandemic, Neumann was eager to return to the field for the new season this Spring. That anxiousness to get back into action was on full display in the opening half of play Saturday morning, as the team came out ready to play. Freshman Maggie Blemings opened the season and her career with a flourish, scoring just 26 seconds into the game to give the visitors an early 1-0 lead.
 
Chestnut Hill responded with a trio of unanswered goals to take a 3-1 lead with 22:45 left in the first frame, but the Knights would not let it deflate them. Neumann stormed back with the game's next three goals to regain the lead at the 18:18 mark. Jay Murray, Fagan and Alison Mallon all found the back of the net for the Knights, each scoring their first career goals.
 
After over ten minutes of a stalemate with solid defense and goaltending being played by both sides, the Griffins were finally able to level the score at 4-4 with a goal at 7:14. The game would remain tied until late in the half, when the Knights took a stranglehold on the game moving to halftime. Using a free position goal from Keri Mallon and Fagan's second tally of the game, Neumann took a 6-4 lead into the break.
 
The Knights continued their momentum into the second stanza, tacking on three of the half's first four goals via Adams, Ally Bee and Reilly Fiedler to jump out to a 9-5 lead with 16:02 left to play. Chestnut Hill fought back with two straight goals to make it 9-7, but that was as close as the hosts would get. The final ten minutes of play would be the Adams and Fagan show, as the pair of attackers combined for three goals to help seal the 12-7 non-conference road victory.
 
Neumann (1-0) will have a week off before opening conference play on Senior Day next Saturday, March 20th versus Cabrini. Game-time is scheduled for 12:00 PM.