March 5, 2000

DENVER, Colo. -- Junior Lael O'Shaughnessy and sophomore Alissa Moser each scored four goals to lead the Notre Dame women's lacrosse team to an 18-7 season-opening win at Denver on Sunday. The Irish used scoring streaks of six in the first half and five to start the second half to pull away from the Pioneers. Junior goalkeepers Tara Durkin and Carrie Marshall combined to make 17 saves while allowing just seven goals. Notre Dame returns to action when it plays host to Ohio University on Sat., March 11, at 12:00 p.m.

Notre Dame led 5-4 at the 20:10 mark of the first half on two goals by O'Shaughnessy and freshman Angela Dixon. The Irish then used goals by six different players to lead 11-4 at 3:30 in the first half. Denver added a goal with 1:36 left to cut the lead to 11-5 at halftime. Notre Dame scored five goals in the first 6:48 of the second -- including two by O'Shaughnessy -- to break the game open with a 16-5 lead. Sophomore Kate Scarola and Moser closed out the scoring for the Irish.

Dixon, Danielle Shearer and Kelly McCardell all started their first collegiate game as freshmen. Dixon finished with three goals and an assist, while Shearer scored twice an added three assists. The Irish finished with a 35-28 advantage in shots and 34-23 in groundballs.

Team Scoring

Notre Dame 11-7 18

Denver 5-2 7

Individual Scoring (goal-assist): Notre Dame: Lael O'Shaughnessy 4-1, Danielle Shearer 2-3, Alissa Moser 4-0, Angela Dixon 3-1, Natalie Loftus 1-2, Maura Doyle 1-1, Kate Scarola 1-1, Kathryn Perrella 1-0, Anne Riley 1-0, Kelly McCardell 0-1.

Denver: James 4-0, Bodick 2-0, Cook 0-1, Lapotosky 1-0.

Team Stats: Notre Dame: total shots - 35, free position shots - 6, shots on goal - 29, saves - 17 (Tara Durkin - 10, Carrie Marshall - 7), draw control - 14, groundballs - 34.

Denver: total shots - 28, free position shots - 6, shots on goal - 23, saves - 10 (Hazard - 7, Harwood - 3), draw control - 13, groundballs - 23.