Lourdes opened its 2019 season on Saturday afternoon with a 16-8 neutral site victory over Missouri Valley at Lindenwood Stadium in Belleville, Ill.
 
"We started out really slow and the weather definitely had an impact on how we came out," head coach Alyssa Shaver said afterwards.  "We brought it together at halftime and I am proud of them for pulling out the win."
 
Claire Austin (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston H.S.) started the scoring for Lourdes with her first collegiate goal less than seven minutes into the contest.  Missouri Valley responded with three of the next four goals to take a 3-2 lead with under 10 minutes to play before the Lourdes offense clicked.  The Gray Wolves scored the final four tallies of the first half and took a 6-3 lead into the break.
 
After the Vikings opened the second half with a pair of goals to close within one, Lourdes tallied seven straight to break the game open.  Tiara Reed (Maumee, Ohio/Anthony Wayne H.S.), who scored four goals on the day, had three during the run, giving the Gray Wolves a 13-5 advantage.
 
Despite Missouri Valley scoring three of the next four tallies, goals by Anna Zofchak (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover H.S.), her second of the day, and Brandy Lowery (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg H.S.) solidified the victory.
 
Bella D'Arcy (Hartland, Mich./Hartland H.S.) scored three times in her collegiate debut for the Gray Wolves while freshman Brianna Nantz (Brighton, Mich./Brighton H.S.) had two goals off the bench.  Katherine Garver (Maumee, Ohio/Notre Dame Academy) had a two-goal game as well for Lourdes while Ashley Hunt (Cape May, N.J./Lower Cape May H.S.) also found the back of the cage.
 
In goal, Jacque Pappadakes (Rocky River, Ohio/Rocky River H.S.) made nine saves to earn her first career victory. 
 
Payge Farewell scored five times to lead Missouri Valley (0-1) while Jacie Willison made 15 saves in goal.
 
Lourdes finished with a 44-19 shot advantage and a 20-15 ground ball advantage in the game.  Both teams won 13 draw controls.
 
Lourdes (1-0) returns to Lindenwood Stadium on Sunday afternoon to face host Lindenwood-Belleville.  The opening draw is set for 2 p.m. EST.