WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Behind a 21-goal output, the Monmouth women's lacrosse team cruised to a 21-2 victory to open the 2022 season on Sunday afternoon at Kessler Stadium. Monmouth (1-0, 0-0 MAAC) erupted for a nine-goal first quarter and never looked back. The Hawks scored four goals in each of the ensuing three frames en route to securing the win over the Blue Devils (0-1, 0-0 NEC). Rookie Caroline Brennan had a standout performance in her collegiate debut, totaling nine points on six goals and three assists. Hope Steuerwald logged a career-best five-point outing after tallying three goals and a career-high two assists, while Maddie Murphy also recorded a hat trick with a career-best three scores. On the defensive end, Danielle McNeely caused a team-high three turnovers in her first collegiate outing. Brennan, Grace Curtin and Carli Mangum each caused a pair of turnovers. Kennedy Fruit and Madi Bednarik both saw action in between the pipes and turned away six shots. Cassidy Orban led Monmouth with six draw controls while Ali Styba and Curtin chipped in with four apiece. NOTES AND QUOTES "Today was an excellent start to the 2022 season. It was a full team effort and a great reflection of the work this group put in during the offseason and during the last five weeks of our preseason." -Head Coach Jordan Trautman -Monmouth won it season opener for the fourth straight year. -The 21 goals were the most scored by Monmouth since putting up 21 on March 26 against Quinnipiac. -It was the most goals scored in a season opener in program history. -The two goals were the fewest given up by a Monmouth defense since Feb. 27, 2019 at Sacred Heart. -It was the largest goal differential in a Monmouth win since topping Saint Francis (Pa.), 20-1, on April 5, 2007. -Brennan's six goals are tied for the 10th-most scored by a Hawk in a single game in program history. -Her nine points are tied for the fifth-most recorded by a Hawk in single game program history. -Brennan, Caitlin Colbert, Curtin, Maddie Flynn, Lily Ivanovich, and McNeely all scored their first collegiate goals in a Monmouth jersey. -Transfers Mary Kate George and Orban tallied their first goals at Monmouth. -Steuerwald recorded her second career hat trick. -Murphy notched her first career multi-goal game and hat trick. NUMBERS CRUNCH -Monmouth outshot Central Connecticut State, 41-9. -The Hawks placed 32 of their 41 shots on goal. -Monmouth won 21 of the 25 draws. -The Hawks were 12-of-13 on clears. -Eleven of the 21 Monmouth goals were assisted on. -Nine Hawks combined to cause 14 Blue Devils' turnovers. -Twenty-eight different Hawks saw action. UP NEXT Monmouth will begin an eight-game road stretch starting with a Saturday afternoon matchup against LIU slated for 1 p.m. in Brookville, N.Y.