NYACK, N.Y. Senior Whitney McKay (Painted Post, N.Y.) paced an offensive explosion in the opening game of the 2016 season for American international College during a 26-9, victory over Nyack in non-conference women's lacrosse action this afternoon.
McKay scored six times including four times in the opening six minutes as AIC (1-0) jumped out to the early 7-0 lead just seven minutes in. Junior Jessica Lawler (Mexico, N.Y.) added a pair of her own during that span as she finished with four goals and three assists in the game.
The Jackets hit running time midway through the opening half after a score from freshman Mikayla Demanche (Rochester, Mass.) as they cruised into the intermission with the 17-4 lead.
Nyack (0-1) had a mini flourish to open the second half as they scored two quick ones for the 17-6 margin, but senior Cheyenne Carden (Branford, Conn.) silenced that with a goal as junior Stefanie Dufresne (Belchertown, Mass.) and Lawler followed suit for the 20-6 lead at the 22:35 mark.
AIC continued to control the game until the final whistle as junior Riley Brennan (Wilbraham, Mass.) finished with four goals and a pair of helpers while Dufresne added three scores and four assists. Demanche, Carden, senior Kelly Reilly (Corning, N.Y.) and freshman Mary Bates (East Longmeadow, Mass.) also finished with multiple goals.
Carden also controlled the circle with 10 draws and collected a team-best 3 groundballs while Dufresne added five draw controls and caused a pair of miscues.
The victory marks the first in the young career for first year head coach Ashley Casiano.
"We played as a team, we played together" commented Casiano after the game. "Nobody played as an individual as half of our goals were assisted."
Junior goalkeeper Alexis Torosian (Hopkinton, Mass.) secured the win playing the first half before being relieved by freshman Gianna Barile (Wallingford, Conn.) in the second half,the Jackets outshot the hosts 35-17 and went 9-for-10 on clears.
AIC returns to action Tuesday afternoon as they head east on I-90 to battle Assumption to begin Northeast-10 play with a 4 p.m. affair.
