Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey women's lacrosse team kick started the 2013 season with a win as the Lions scored 11 times in the opening half as they went on to post a 19-6 triumph over visiting FDU-Florham on Saturday at Lions' Stadium
 
The win put the sixth-ranked Lions at 1-0, while the Devils slipped to 1-2.
 
TCNJ needed on 13 seconds to get on the scoreboard in the new season as junior Jen Garavente (Monroe Twp., Monroe Twp.) netted the initial goal. Senior Alex Spark (Harvey Cedars, NJ/Southern Regional) then rattled off three straight goals making it 4-0 with less than six minutes expired.
 
The Devils then went on a 3-1 run closing the gap to 5-3, but the Lions finished off the period scoring all six goals as Spark and Garavente each scoring three times for the hosts. TCNJ carried an 11-3 advantage into the half.
 
The Lions started strong in the second half scoring three times in the opening five minutes with Spark, Lauren Karpovich (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee), and Garavente each scoring.
 
The Devils broke that string of goals when Courtney Rendinaro (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) scored on a free-position shot.
 
TCNJ closed out the game scoring five of the final seven goals sealing a win in their season opener.
 
Spark finished with nine goals, which tied her own school record for goals in a game that she also shares with Carin Heller. Garavente recorded six goals, while Erin Healy (Spring Lake Heights, NJ/Manasquan) and Karpovich each scored twice. Lauren Pigott (Jobstown, NJ/Northern Burlington) chipped in with three assists and Jillian Nealon (Whitehouse Station, NJ/Hunterdon Central) had a two helpers.
 
Junior goalie Kelsey Zinck (Bristow, VA/James W. Robinson) picked up the win, finishing with four saves.
 
Rendinaro paced the Devils with three goals.
 
In goal for FDU-Florham, Grace Warburton (Lake Hopatcong, NJ/Jefferson) made 12 stops.
 
Next up for the Lions is the road and New Jersey Athletic Conference opener as they head to Kean University on Tuesday, March 5 to take on the Cougars in a 4 p.m. start, while the Devils return home to take on Stevens Institute of Technology on March 6.