DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – The Wilkes University women's lacrosse team opened its Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom schedule with a 16-9 win at  Delaware Valley University on Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Colonels improved to 8-2 overall and 1-0 in MAC Freedom play.

Wilkes put the ball in the net first when senior Madeleine Brownsey (Glenside, PA/St. Basil Academy) scored with an assist from senior Tori Kerr (Beacon, NY/Beacon) in the first minute and Kerr put the Lady Colonels ahead 2-0 when she scored unassisted in the fourth minute.

Delaware Valley cut the lead to 2-1 in the fifth minute, but Wilkes answered with three straight goals. Sophomore Jessyca Held (West Babylon, NY/West Babylon) scored unassisted in the sixth minute, freshman Kyra Boccio (Dingmans Ferry, Pa./Delaware Valley) scored in the ninth minute with an assist from senior Melanie Rivera (Middletown, NY/Middletown), and Kerr scored unassisted in the 10^th minute.

The Aggies added their second goal in the 12^th minute to cut the lead to 5-2, but Rivera scored in the 16^th minute with an assist from sophomore Maura Brownsey (Glenside, PA/St. Basil Academy) before the senior Brownsey scored unassisted in the 18^th minute to make the Wilkes lead 7-2.

Delaware Valley cut the lead to 7-3 with a man-up goal in the 23^rd minute but the senior Brownsey answered in the 29^th minute before the Aggies and Held both scored in the 30^th minute with the Lady Colonels entering halftime with a 9-4 lead.

Held opened the scoring in the second half with an unassisted goal in the 33^rd minute. The sophomore Brownsey scored in the 38^th minute with an assist from Kerr, Held scored unassisted 23 seconds later, Kerr scored with an assist from the sophomore Brownsey in the 41^st minute, Held scored with an assist from Boccio in the 44^th minute, and the senior Brownsey scored with an assist from Held in the 46^th minute as part of a 7-0 run to give Wilkes a 15-4 lead.

The Aggies finished the game scoring five of the last six goals, scoring in the 51^st and 52^nd minute before Rivera added a tally in the 53^rd minute with an assist from the senior Brownsey. Delaware Valley then scored in the 55^th, 57^th, and 59^th minute but were unable to get any closer.

Held led the Lady Colones with seven points on five goals and two assists, including the game-winner. Brownsey (four goals, one assist) and Kerr (three goals, two assists) both finished with five points. Freshman Tabitha Gravius (Howell, NJ/Manalapan) made four saves to earn the victory.

Wilkes returns to action on Monday when they host Centenary College for a 4 p.m. non-conference match-up.