GRANVILLE, Ohio - The Catholic University women's lacrosse team opened the NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Championship with a record for goals in a 27-5 victory over St. Mary's (Ind.) in the first round Saturday.

The Cardinals (14-4) move to 9-0 all-time in NCAA first round games, including 4-0 at neutral sites. The win marked the largest margin of victory for Catholic in program history, matching its 23-1 victory at Trinity (D.C.) on April 13, 2000.

The Cardinals and Belles traded goals to start the game before Catholic rattled off 10 of the next 12 to take an 11-3 lead with 8:36 remaining in the second quarter. Each of the Cardinals' first 11 goals came from a different player.

Highlighting the day, junior Caroline Beckett totaled five assists to register her 50th assist of the year, breaking the program single-season record held set by assistant coach Holly Regan who had 49 in 2018.

A total of 13 different players scored in the first half for Catholic while nine of the 15 goals were assisted. Junior Grace Hill totaled two goals and a career-high three assists in the opening 30 minutes.

Sophomore Riley Cherkes and junior Kate Olsen also contributed three points each in the first half as each scored three times. Cherkes also dished out three assists for a career-high six points.

Freshmen Madeline Kelly and Grace English both recorded two points in the first half with freshman Jill Kennedy netting her first career goal to give the Cardinals a 15-3 halftime lead.

Senior Rachel Searle earned the victory in net, making five first half saves and scooping up two ground balls to lead the defensive effort.

Halftime was extended by several hours due to lightning and storms in the area. Opening draw of the second half was not administered until 8 p.m.

The first four draw controls were all won by sophomore Anna Corona who had a career-high nine on the day, more than doubling her previous best of four. Hill also dominated on the draw, winning five.

Senior Caitlyn Bowles contributed a second half hat-trick and was 2-of-2 on free position opportunities.

The Cardinals allowed just one shot in the fourth quarter with sophomore Lauren Davidson making one save.

Meanwhile, Catholic scored seven fourth-quarter tallies with freshman Kayla Brooks and sophomore Mattea Del Peschio posting three-point performances with assists to freshman Caroline Regan and sophomore Kaila Bernstiel to end the game.

Catholic outshot the Belles, 46-13, and won 26-of-35 draw controls. The Cardinals were 4-of-7 on free-position opportunities with seniors Molly Monaghan and Anna Maupin scored one apiece.

Catholic scored a season-high 48 points as 21 of its 27 goals were assisted.

The Cardinals will face host Denison in the second round tomorrow in the first-ever meeting between the two teams. Opening draw is scheduled for 4 p.m.