The No. 16 University of Denver’s women’s lacrosse team not only improved their 0-2 record but also won their first home game of the season this Friday evening after beating Stony Brook 15-5 at Barton Lacrosse Stadium with 306 fans in attendance.

Top scorers for DU were junior midfielder Karen Morton with six goals and junior attack Steph Coyne with five goals. Coyne also had three assists which tied her career high with eight points, which also ties the sixth highest single-game mark in DU women’s lacrosse history.

“Well, we are not 0-2 anymore,” said head coach Liza Kelly of their win against Stony Brook. “It’s good we had a strong game.”

The Pioneers (1-2) began their lead against the Stony Brook Seawolves (1-1) in the first 30 seconds of the game when junior attack Megan Carver scored her only goal of the game after receiving a pass from Coyne.

The Seawolves responded five minutes into the game to tie the score at 1-1 but the Pioneers managed to fight back quickly and score four unanswered goals, three by Coyne and one by Morton, over a ten minute stretch before letting in another Stony Brook goal.

At halftime, Denver led 8-3 due to Morton’s three additional goals and Stony Brook’s single additional goal.

“It felt good and we are finally getting into the swing of things,” said Morton of the team’s first win. “This just makes everyone feel not so defeated and it makes us know we can play with anyone.”

The Pioneers took a total of 40 shots, 20 in each of the two periods, compared to the Seawolves measly 14 total shots on goal. Each team made two free position shots but Denver’s players made six unassisted goals, while none of Stony Brook’s players were unable to make a single unassisted goal throughout the game. Denver had 11 draws controls, Stony Brook had eight and out of the 22 face-offs the Pioneers won 13, Seawolves won nine. None of DU’s players received yellow cards this game; however two of Stony Brook’s players did during the first half.

“Our goalies split halves and we ran midfield lines,” said Kelly of what they did differently on Friday’s game in comparison to their first two games against Duke and University of North Carolina.

In the start of the second half, the Seawolves had a 2-1 run and scored the last two goals they would make the rest of the game. Sophomore midfielder Ali Flury had a hat trick when she scored all three of her goals in the second half and contributed to the Pioneers final six goals to seal the win.

“Duquesne is very athletic, has good speed and size,” said Kelly of their upcoming rival who they play this week.

Women’s lacrosse will play their second of seven-consecutive home games on Tuesday at 4 p.m. against Duquesne in Barton Lacrosse Stadium.