SALISBURY, Md. - The Catholic women's lacrosse team opened up a strenuous non-conference schedule on Saturday afternoon, falling 10-5 on the road at Salisbury in the season opener. 

Trailing 2-0 late in the first quarter, Grace Hill scored the first goal of the 2023 season for Catholic, narrowing the deficit off a Caroline Beckett assist with 2:29 remaining in the quarter. Catholic entered the second down a goal, but the deficit didn't last long as Mia Perkell scored her first goal as a Cardinal to tie the contest at 2-2 with 14:04 left in the first half. 

Salisbury scored the next three first-half goals to take a 5-2 lead before the Cardinals got back within one just before halftime as Beckett scored on a free position goal to send Catholic into halftime down just two. 

Riley Cherkes scored both second-half goals for Catholic as the Gulls outscored the Cardinals 5-2 to come away with a 10-5 victory. 

The team stats show a tight contest with Catholic finishing just one save, one draw control, and one ground ball short of the Sea Gulls. 

Beckett finished with one goal, one assist, and two ground balls in the contest. Grace English and Jessie Lee each picked up a pair of ground balls with Lee also causing a pair of turnovers. Lauren Davidson started in goal for Catholic, making eight saves in the defeat. Emma Skoglund scored three goals and handed out an assist in the win for Salisbury. 

Catholic will return to action in a neutral site contest versus William Smith on Saturday at USA Lacrosse. Gametime is scheduled for 4 p.m.