ANNAPOLIS, Md. –  Behind the attack of Julia Collins, Morgan Young and Kelly Larkin, Navy used 13 first-half goals in route to a 20-3 win over the Longwood women's lacrosse team in the 2017 season opener Sunday afternoon.

Collins led the Midshipmen (1-0) with a game-high four goals while Young and Larkin, in her collegiate debut, added three apiece for hat tricks. Those two accounted for the first five Midshipmen goals as Young tallied the first two before Larkin added three straight.

The veteran Navy squad put the pressure on Longwood's young attack causing 11 of the Lancers' 23 turnovers, while the offense fired off 39 shots – 30 on goal – and notched six free-position goals on nine attempts. The Mids controlled nearly every facet of the game, including shots on goal (30-7), ground balls (24-9), clear opportunities (18-22 to 10-14) and caused turnovers (11-2).

"It's challenging to open against Navy, a very solid and well coached team," said Longwood head coach Elaine Jones, who opened her fifth season at the helm. "However, it provides a good benchmark to show us what we need to work on as we begin our season. The end result wasn't great today, but I thought the team hustled all game."

The Midshipmen were able to keep Big South Conference all-conference preseason selection Madison Stair in check, holding her to just one goal on five shots and four turnovers after she scored 41 goals one season ago.

After Longwood got on the board and cut the Navy lead to 2-1, a 15-goal run broke the game open at 17-1 in the second half before sophomore attacker Stephanie Roberts broke the run with her first goal of the season.

Four Longwood freshmen – Molly Barkman, Corri Calandra, Lexi Davis and Kaitlin Luccarelli – got their first collegiate start for the blue and white on Sunday as part of a young Lancer attack looking to replace four-year starters and All-Big South picks Sarah Butler and Katie McHugh, who graduated last May.

Davis got the scoring started for the Lancers in 2017, her first goal as a Lancer, and picked up a ground ball from her attack position. Barkman tallied a game-high eight draw controls, the most by a Longwood freshman since Roberts' six last season against Elon. The Lothian, Md., native also picked up a team-best two ground balls in her debut.

Junior goalkeeper Imani West notched 10 saves while the Lancers were able to only send 10 shots at Navy's quartet of Ingrid Boyum, Autumn Koh, Gab Harchelroad and Victoria Laveck.

"Molly Barkman did very well on the draw, and Imani West came up with some nice saves," Jones said. "I think our team overall had some first-game jitters on offense and some lapses on defense that Navy easily capitalized on. I'm confident those jitters and lapses won't be as evident in our next game."

Longwood (0-1) hits the road again as a showdown at Lafayette awaits next Sunday afternoon. First draw is set for 1 p.m. in Easton, Pa.

#GoWood