PURCHASE, NY – Junior Madeline Mecca (Oceanside, NY) netted a notable 10 points—the most in program history for a season opener—to lead the Purchase women's lacrosse team to an 18-2 victory over Centenary University Friday afternoon.

Purchase used goals from six different players, headlined by Mecca's seven and a pair of hat tricks from junior Gabriella Castles (Bethpage, NY) and freshman Brienne Westfall (Grand Island, NY), to defeat the visiting Cyclones and start off the young season at 1-0 overall.

Freshman netminder Casandra Schmoger (Islip, NY) recorded five stops for the Panthers en route to her first collegiate win.

In defeat, Centenary's Jenyfer Pereira (0-2) made 10 saves for the visitors.

The game started with an exchange of turnovers before a successful clear by Purchase led to Mecca finding the back at 2:31. Westfall notched the assist—the first in her collegiate career.

Mecca scored again in the seventh minute followed by three straight goals from Castles. The hat trick pushed Purchase out to a 5-0 lead with just over three minutes remaining in the first half. A minute later, sophomore Sigrid Cassell (Huntington, NY) collected a ground ball and ripped a shot to record her first goal of the season.

At the break, Purchase led 6-0.

The Panthers continued to heat up in the second half, firing in six unanswered goals from the combined efforts by Mecca (3), Westfall (2) and freshman Madison Buttice (Bethpage, NY).

Centenary would not be shut out, however, as the Cyclones lit up their side of the board with a Kaylee Bennett goal in the ninth minute.

The Panthers answered back with a 2-0 run over the next four minutes of play. Mecca scored her sixth in the game and team's 13th off the assist from Westfall, and freshman Madison Fetzer (Hauppauge, NY) followed with her collegiate-first off a pass from Castles.

Centenary would add on a second goal with 11:03 left on the clock before Purchase closed the game with a 4-0 run to secure the 18-2 victory.

For the game, Purchase outshot Centenary 37-10 and picked up 37 groundballs to the visitors' 22. The Panthers also held a 15-7 advantage in draw controls.

Purchase will take a short break before returning to action at Sage College on March 12. The non-conference game is slated for 4:30 p.m. at ACP Stadium in Albany, N.Y.

For the latest news on the men's lacrosse team and the rest of the Panthers, log on to www.purchasecollegeathletic.com – the official site of Purchase College Athletics. Also, become a follower of the Panthers on Instagram (purchaseathletics) and Twitter (@PC_Panthers), and "LIKE" Us on Facebook (@purchasecollegeathletics).