EDWARDSVILLE – Visiting Kean University used an 11-goal first half on way to an 18-5 victory over the Wilkes University women's lacrosse team as both squads opened the 2024 season Wednesday night at Bruggeworth Field.
 
Wilkes dropped to 0-1 on the season while Kean improved to 1-0 on the year following both teams' season opener.
 
Kean raced out to a 6-0 lead scoring six straight in the first quarter before the Colonels got on the board with a tally from Breanne Fulling (Hyde Park, NY/Franklin D. Roosevelt) on a free position attempt with :21 left in the frame.
 
After another Kean goal, Maleah Cobham (Westbury, NY/W.T. Clarke) notched her first goal of the season to cut the lead to 7-2 with 12:15 left in the second quarter. Kean used another four-goal stretch over the final 12 minutes of play to up its lead to 11-2 at the break.
 
Kean extended the advantage over the first eight minutes of the third quarter with four unanswered goals before Cobham posted her second of the game with 4:01 left on the clock. Kean kept its double-digit lea through the third up 16-3.
 
Wilkes scored twice in the final period as Fulling notched her second of the contest off an assist from Brooklyn Pedana (Pittston, PA/Pittston Area) and Sam Mullen (Dover, PA/York Catholic) scored unassisted with 8:42 left in the game.
 
Brooklynn Donia (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) made three saves starting in goal for Wilkes before she was relieved by Samantha Scott (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Valley) finished with eight saves playing the final three quarters.
 
Wilkes continues its home stretch to open the season on Saturday hosting Mount Saint Mary College (NY) in a non-conference tilts scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Schmidt Stadium.