BRIDGEPORT, Connecticut The American International College women's lacrosse team dropped its season opener at the University of Bridgeport by a score of 20-6 on Monday, February 18.

FAST FACTS:
Final Score: Bridgeport 20, AIC 6.
Records: AIC starts the season 0-1, while Bridgeport is now 1-0.
Location: Knights Field, Bridgeport, Connecticut

STAT LEADERS:
AIC:
Emilee Giacondino: Three goals, five ground balls
Brittany Hutchison: One goal
Mikayla Demanche: One goal, two ground balls
Mary Bates: One goal
Devin Coulter: One assist, three ground balls, two caused turnovers, three draw controls
Sam Giordano: One assist
Chelsea Davis: Loss (0-1), 10 saves on 28 shots in 44:05, one ground ball
Jessica Stone: No decision (0-0), one save on three shots in 15:55

Bridgeport:
Courtney Forry: Four goals, seven assists
Barbara Orsini: Five goals, one assist
Danielle Kreitler: Two goals, three assists, 11 draw controls
Julia Ruscio: Four goals, two ground balls
Shyla Murray: Three goals, two ground balls, two caused turnovers
Cheyanne Gangel: Win (1-0), 15 saves, one ground ball

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Sophomore attacker Emilee Giacondino started the scoring just 1:27 into the game; Shyla Murray responded for Bridgeport at the 2:20 mark.
• AIC struck for two quick goals to take a 3-1 lead before the 10:00 mark; senior midfielder Mikayla Demanche finished on a pass from sophomore midfielder Devin Coulter, and then Giacondino scored her second of the game.
• Bridgeport went on a run of its own, taking a 4-3 lead just past the midpoint of the period, but the Yellow Jackets notched an equalizer moments later, with freshman attacker Sam Giordano setting up redshirt senior Brittany Hutchison for a goal at 15:36.
• The Purple Knights took over from there, scoring three goals in a 60-second span to go up 7-4; though senior attacker Mary Bates tallied at 19:14, the Purple Knights finished the half on another run, with four goals from the 25:47 mark through the 28:34 mark and one final tally before the break putting the hosts ahead 12-5 at halftime.
• The home team added to the lead in the second half, notching six goals in the first 15 minutes of the frame and eight overall; AIC's only strike in the second half came from Giacondino, who completed her hat trick at 21:11, but Bridgeport cruised to a 20-6 victory.

BUZZWORTHY:

• In five career nonconference games, Giacondino has scored 13 goals and three assists for 16 points; she has three hat tricks in those games.
• Giordano recorded her first career point in her first collegiate game; she was one of four freshmen to make their debuts today.

NEXT UP:

• The Yellow Jackets open the home and Northeast-10 Conference slate with a 1 p.m. start against Franklin Pierce on Saturday, February 23.

STAY CONNECTED:

• For more updates about the AIC women's lacrosse team, follow@AICwlaxon Twitter and@AIC_womens_lacrosseonInstagram, and likeAIC Women's Lacrosse on Facebook. For updates on all AIC Yellow Jackets teams, follow@AICAthleticson TwitterandInstagram, and likeAIC Yellow JacketsonFacebook.