It didn’t take long for the Fort Lewis College women’s lacrosse team to feel right at home against Shorter University on Wednesday.
Jessica Norby scored eight seconds into the game on an assist from Ellie Carpenter.
Carpenter found the net herself 51 seconds later.
FLC (3-0) pressed the pedal for the rest of the game in a 20-10 win over the Rome, Ga., school in its home opener.
The 3-0 start is the best in the program’s five-year history.
The Skyhawks scored 12 goals in the first half by nine different players.
“We just had a game a couple days ago, and we came out really flat,” Norby said. “This being our first home game, we just wanted to come out and show them what we’re made of. It definitely clicked for us.”
FLC originally was supposed to play Shorter (3-5) in Alamosa, but staffing issues at Adams State forced the move west.
It bumped up the Skyhawks first home game by nearly two weeks.
“It was really exciting, especially when we realized the weather was going to be nice and we were going to get to wear our new gold jerseys,” Carpenter said. “It was nice to not to have to drive to Alamosa two times in a row.”
The Skyhawks piled up 15 assists on their 20 goals in the game.
Ally Kvidera led the team with four assists, while Carpenter and Marissa DiCecco both had three. Norby scored four goals to lead the team, while Carpenter and Abby Kvidera both found the back of the net three times.
“All the girls want to make a pass instead of shoot, so it’s nice to see the assists,” FLC head coach Kelsey MacDonald said.
FLC also forced 24 turnovers in the game, which led to plenty of transition opportunities.
“We work on fast breaks all the time, so it’s good to see what we’ve been working on transition into the games,” MacDonald said. “We definitely are a team that can pass and move and pass and move.”
The 10-minute break for halftime may have slowed FLC down a little bit, though.
Shorter scored three consecutive goals midway through the second half to cut the Skyhawks’ advantage to eight.
“They came out pretty hard in the second half because I think they were (ticked) off, so I think we underestimated their intensity,” Carpenter said. “We know we’re a good team, and I think sometimes we forget how good we can be.”
kgrabowski@durangoherald.com
