MARS HILL, N.C. – The Converse University lacrosse team opened the 2023 season with a 19-5 road loss to Mars Hill on Saturday afternoon at Meares Stadium.
 
Mars Hill (2-0) improves to 2-0 against Conference Carolinas school's this season, while Converse (0-1) has now lost back-to-back season openers. The Lions jumped out to an early 4-0 lead before Cassidy O'Neill found the back of the net for the Valkyries at the 11:17 mark of the first quarter. Mars Hill scored five more times before freshman Ryleigh Schaeffer scored her first career goal with seven second remaining in the opening quarter.
 
In the second quarter Mars Hill extended their lead to 11-2 before Schaeffer scored once again for the Valkyries. Converse did not score again in the first half as they went into the halftime break down 13-3. Mars Hill outscored Converse 3-0 in the third quarter but Converse was able to score the first two goals of the fourth quarter. The Valkyries gave up the final three goals of the game to Mars Hill.
 
Scoring Breakdown
1^st Quarter:

• 14:08, Samantha Newton, unassisted, 1-0 Mars Hill
• 13:59, Sydney Joyce, unassisted, 2-0 Mars Hill
• 13:42, Camryn Marcey, assisted by Tiffany Saavedra, 3-0 Mars Hill
• 12:51, Alexa Tazzetta, unassisted, 4-0 Mars Hill
• 11:17, Cassidy O'Neill, unassisted, 4-1 Mars Hill
• 8:58, Sydney Joyce, unassisted, 5-1 Mars Hill
• 7:00, Sydney Joyce, unassisted, 6-1 Mars Hill
• 5:19, Haley Stallings, assisted by Camryn Marcey, 7-1 Mars Hill
• 3:22, Sydney Joyce, unassisted, 8-1 Mars Hill
• 00:37, Alexa Tazzetta, unassisted, 9-1 Mars Hill
• 00:07, Ryleigh Schaeffer, assisted by Hailey Obenchain, 9-2 Mars Hill

 
2^nd Quarter:

• 12:39, Sydney Joyce, unassisted, 10-2 Mars Hill
• 10:24, Haley Stallings, unassisted, 11-2 Mars Hill
• 9:10, Ryleigh Schaeffer, unassisted, 11-3 Mars Hill
• 7:47, Sydney Joyce (Man Up), unassisted, 12-3 Mars Hill
• 6:53, Samantha Newton (Man Up), assisted by Alexa Tazzetta, 13-3 Mars Hill

 
3^rd Quarter:

• 7:21, Sydney Joyce (Man Up), assisted by Chandler Werner, 14-3 Mars Hill
• 2:11, Haley Stallings, unassisted, 15-3 Mars Hill
• 00:22, Haley Stallings, assisted by Alexa Tazzetta, 16-3 Mars Hill

 
4^th Quarter:

• 11:01, Cassidy O'Neill, unassisted, 16-4 Mars Hill
• 8:00, Brenna Everette, assisted by Hailey Obenchain, 16-5 Mars Hill
• 5:56, Haley Stallings, assisted by Sydney Joyce, 17-5 Mars Hill
• 3:28, Sydney Joyce, unassisted, 18-5 Mars Hill
• 2:06, Chandler Werner, assisted by Camryn Marcey, 19-5 Mars Hill

 
Notables:

• Ryleigh Schaeffer recorded her first multi-goal performance of her collegiate career, Cassidy O'Neill recorded her first multi-goal performance of the season and Hailey Obenchain recorded her first multi-assist game of her career. Reagan Collins led the goalies with a trio of saves on the afternoon.

 
Next Up:

• Converse will have a week off before hosting Coker in their home opener on Saturday afternoon at 12:00 p.m.

 
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Twitter: @ConverseUWLAX
Instagram: @conversewlacrosse
Youtube.com/Converse Athletics