NEWARK, Del. - The 2019 season started on a high note for the 10th-ranked University of Pennsylvania women's lacrosse team, as the Quakers put forth a stingy defense front and got goals from eight different players en route to a 15-4 victory at Delaware.

PENN NEWS AND NOTES
*Three players recorded five points on the afternoon for the Quakers, including four goals and an assist from Erin Barry. Barry was efficient as ever for Penn, scoring a goal on each of her four shot attempts.

*Zoe Belodeau was right behind, finishing with three goals and two assists. Belodeau was matched by Chelsea Kibler for the team lead with three caused turnovers each. 

*Taylyn Stadler and Michaela McMahon made an immediate impact for Penn in their collegiate debuts, each netting their first career goals. Stadler also added an assist.

*Gabby Rosenzweig had a game-high three assists to go with her two goals. Abby Bosco added two goals. 

*Junior Mikaila Cheeseman earned the victory in net for Penn, finishing with nine saves in 46 minutes of action. Freshman Krissy Kowalski entered the game late and played 14 minutes. 

*Penn led Delaware in shots, 27-16, and had 20 ground balls to 15 for the Blue Hens. 

*The Quakers move to 1-0 for the sixth-straight season, with each win in that span coming against Delaware.

*Karin Corbett improves to 17-3 in season openers with the Quakers.

*With the win, Penn is now 11-2 in the all-time series vs. the Blue Hens, having won seven straight. The 11-goal margin of victory is the biggest in series history for the Red and Blue. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
The early portion of the game was dominated by defense on both sides, as the Quakers set the tone with a forced turnover on Delaware's first possession, and followed that up with a score from Elyse Decker, assisted by Belodeau. 

The Blue Hens had opportunities to draw even, but it was Cheeseman in the goal coming up big for Penn, with two early saves and a ground ball pickup, adding in two more saves on ensuing possessions. 

The score stayed locked at 1-0 for nearly 12 minutes before a score from Rosenzweig on the counter attack put the Quakers up 2-0. Less than 20 seconds later, Stadler scored on a free position, followed by a tally from Bosco, taking the score from 1-0 to 4-0 in less than a minute.

Delaware got on the board to make it 4-1, but it was Rosenzweig again, this time from Stadler to make it 5-2.

Two-straight Blue Hen goals would draw the home team back to 5-3, but the Quakers would end the half on a 4-0 run, earning two goals from Barry and one each from Rosenzweig and Belodeau to gain a 9-3 advantage at the break. Belodeau's tally with 3:36 left was particularly impressive, as the sophomore got the ball on a runout, scoring from 25 yards out with an open net. 

Penn would hold the Blue Hens scoreless for over 21 minutes of game action, as the Red and Blue were dominant the entirety of the second half.

Decker fed Barry to start the half, and similar to the first half, neither team scored until Delaware broke free with 18:49 left in the game to make it 10-4. The Quakers would end the game on another run, this time 5-0, and stifled the Blue Hens every chance on defense. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Quakers continue their three-game road swing to open the season, playing at Johns Hopkins next Saturday, Feb. 23 at 1 p.m.