VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. — In the team's first outing of the season, the Southern Virginia University Women's Lacrosse team (1-0) took on Virginia Wesleyan on the road Saturday afternoon. Alissa Johnson's five goals led the Knights away with the 15-4 victory. 

A first-quarter offensive blitz by Southern Virginia propelled the team to a quick 6-0 lead over Virginia Wesleyan, with Johnson leading the charge with an early hat trick. Kate Richards got into the mix with the first collegiate goal of her young career.  

The Marlins were able to slow the pace of the Knights' potent offense, keeping them to only three goals in the second quarter. Roxy LeBaron squeezed an unassisted goal in before the half, extending the team's lead to six goals, 9-3. 

The second half was all Southern Virginia, as Johnson only needed 37 seconds in the third quarter to notch her fifth of the game. Brooklyn Suttlemyre and Piper Searle closed the game with two consecutive goals, with Reagan Bullock sandwiched between the two for her first goal of the season. 

Along with Johnson's stellar efforts, Searle had a solid night with a hat trick, and in the first collegiate game of her career, Brooklyn Suttlemyre shined with three goals. 

Defensively, Roxy LeBaron picked up where she left off last year, leading the unit with five caused turnovers and three ground balls. Morgan Bunch did what she needed to do, recording four saves in between the pipes. 

The Knights travel to Throggs Neck, New York, on Wednesday, March 8, to take on SUNY Maritime College for a mid-week matchup. The opening draw is set for 7 pm. 

For the most up-to-date details and information on the team, visit knightathletics.com for live stats and streaming options, and follow the team on Instagram @knightwlax.