Box Score Mother Nature has made it difficult on the Lancaster Bible women's lacrosse team during the first month of its season. So much so that Wednesday's season opener at Hood was the first time the team had been outside. So for much of the team, this was not only their first collegiate lacrosse game, but it was their first time seeing the ball outside.

Despite the hardships the weather has posed, the Chargers played well in their 14-4 loss to Hood in Frederick, Md. Lancaster Bible surprised everyone by scoring just 1:13 into the game as freshman Alyssa Wesner scored her first-ever goal. The lead wouldn't last a minute as Hood tied it on a goal by Ashley Kitzmiller and took the lead for good three minutes later on a goal by Christina Murphy.

Lancaster Bible never gave in and Annie Hoover's first goal of the year made it 6-2 Hood with 3:23 to play in the opening half. The Blazers (1-0) scored twice more before the end of the half to take an 8-2 lead into halftime. Chargers' senior Erin Railey cut the deficit to 10-3 with 16:53 to play and freshman Naomi Otis scored her first-ever goal with 7:53 to play to make it 13-4 Hood.

Though the final score didn't go their way, the Chargers led many of the other categories in the box score, specifically ground balls in which they held a 23-13 edge.

"The one thing we have stressed with so many new players is ground balls," Lancaster Bible Head Coach Amber Dooley said after coaching her first game. "To have 23 ground balls in our first game is great and a testament to the ladies' hard work."

Obviously there are things to work on and Dooley was quick to point out that although the Chargers trailed the Blazers in shots 25-23, Hood took many more quality shots than Lancaster Bible did.

"We need to make sure we are taking quality shots and not just putting the ball on goal," Dooley said. "Hood made its shots count and we didn't do that enough today."

Lancaster Bible goalie Cheyenne Benson made five saves as she is back in goal for the second straight season. In addition to leading in ground balls, the Chargers turned it over five fewer times than the Blazers (26-21).

With a game under their belt, the Chargers will look to get back to work, even if it is back in the gym again because of snow still on the ground in Lancaster.

"We know some things we need to work out now, but I'm so proud of how the team played today," Dooley said.

Lancaster Bible (0-1) is back in action on Tuesday when they face Richard Stockton at 7 p.m. in Pomona, N.J.