Emmitsburg, Md. (February 19, 2014) – The Mount St. Mary's women's lacrosse team lost its season opener to Johns Hopkins by a final score of 17-2 on Wednesday at Waldron Family Stadium. Sophomore goalkeeper Steph Rurkowski made 16 saves in her first career start for the Mount.

The Mount (0-1) could not overcome a high-powered Johns Hopkins (2-0) offense that managed 40 shots on the day to the Mountaineers' five. Rurkowski, who made a combined 14 saves in seven appearances last season as a freshman, stopped nine shots in the first half and seven in the final 30 minutes.

Seven different Johns Hopkins players scored on the day, led by five goals and three assists by Taylor D'Amore to go with four goals apiece from Dene' DiMartino and Sammy Cermack.

For the home side, Hannah Gutcher and Lindsay Diaz both netted first-half goals to provide the offense.

The Blue Jays scored twice in the opening two minutes before Gutcher found the back of the net off a feed from Diaz. Johns Hopkins went on to score the game's next six goals for an 8-1 advantage with three minutes left in the first half.

With 1:47 to go in the first half, Diaz converted a free position attempt to cut the deficit to 8-2, but the Blue Jays scored again in the final minute for a 9-2 halftime advantage.

The balanced Johns Hopkins attack managed eight goals in the second half to pull away. The Blue Jays held a 26-12 edge in ground balls, and committed 11 turnovers to the Mount's 22.

Diaz scooped up a game-high five ground balls and tied Gabe Little for the team lead in caused turnovers with two.  

The Mount looks to bounce back at Lehigh on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 1 p.m. 

NOTE: Beginning its 19th season in program history, the Mount falls to 4-15 in season openers.