ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. – The Bard College women's lacrosse team kicked off its 2020 season with a 15-11 victory, defeating Castleton University Friday afternoon at Ferrari Field.

The Raptors (1-0) started off with a flurry, as senior midfielder Melissa Rosenthal picked up three goals in the first four minutes of the game. Castleton (0-1) answered with a goal by Erin Shuttle (Georgia, Vt.), who led all players with six goals on the afternoon, but Bard continued to score at a rapid pace. Senior attack Caleigh DeCaprio scored her first goal of the season seven minutes in to give the home team a 4-1 lead.

The Spartans answered back with goals by Shuttle and Morgan Derosia (Vernon, Vt.) to cut the Bard lead to 5-3 with 10 minutes gone in the half, but the Raptors responded by scoring five of the next six goals to take a commanding lead. Bard spread out the scoring, as five different players scored throughout the final 20 minutes of the period. DeCaprio set up several of the goals, picking up three assists and helping Bard to a 9-5 advantage after 30 minutes of play.

The Raptors then got off to a strong start in the second half, as sophomore midfielder Rachael Yoder scored two goals early goals to put the Raptors up 11-6 with seven minutes gone by. Castleton then turned to Shuttle once more, as the senior scored three straight goals to get the Spartans back in the game. The third, with just under 14 minutes remaining, got the visitors within two at an 11-9 score.

But Bard was once again able to respond to a Castleton push, as DeCaprio and sophomore midfielder Gillian Adkins both scored a pair of goals in the late stages of the game put the game out of reach. Despite a pair of late goals by the Spartans, Bard came away victorious, claiming victory in their first game of the season.

Rosenthal, DeCaprio, Yoder and Adkins tied for the team lead with three goals, while DeCaprio added three assists and Rosenthal picked up two helpers. Freshman midfielder Madison Brown had six ground balls and four caused turnovers on the afternoon, and junior defender Yinyin Doherty-Weinraub earned five ground balls and caused three turnovers. The Raptors outshot the Spartans 35-22, won 21 draw controls to the visitors' seven, and held a 29-15 advantage in ground balls. Junior goalkeeper Izabel Kickner picked up the win for the Raptors in the season opener.

Bard is back in action Wednesday, March 4, when they travel to Oneonta, N.Y. to take on Hartwick College at 5:00 p.m.