DUE WEST, S.C.. - Head coach Steve Wagner became Gannon's all-time winningest lacrosse coach Saturday night as the Lady Knights cruised to an easy 23-6 season-opening victory at Erskine (S.C.).

One match into his eighth season, Wagner improved to 74-37 overall. He passed Jim Nestor, who coached the Lady Knights from 1996-2001, on Gannon's all-time coaching victory list.

Erskine momentarily stunned Gannon by scoring two of the first three goals, but the Lady Knights then took firm control with nine straight scores. Jess Fugate (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster) accounted for three goals during the run. Mary Eshenour (Waterloo, N.Y./Waterloo), Rachel DerCola (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) and Kimberly Neagle (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn) added two goals each. Fugate's third tally with 17:51 left in the first half capped the run, giving the Lady Knights a 10-2 lead.

The run was momentarily stopped when Erskine scored an unassisted goal with 12:49 remaining in the half, but Gannon responded with another seven unanswered goals in the final 11:30 to account for a commanding 17-3 halftime advantage.

Eshenour found the back of the net twice in the final 32 seconds, finishing the half with four goals. Fugate netted five goals in the opening 30 minutes which saw the Lady Knights post a 31-14 edge in shots.

The pace slowed down in the second half. Gannon out-scored Erskine 6-3 while owning a 14-7 edge in shots during the second stanza. Six different Lady Knights scored in the final 30 minutes.

Fugate headlined the Gannon offensive attack with six goals and one assist. Eshenour was close behind with five scores. Neagle, DerCola and Sarah Grzybinski (New Market, Md./Linganore) chipped in three goals. DerCola also dished out three assists.

Caitlyn Fisher (Cypress, Texas/Cy-Fair) recorded a team-high four assists while also scoring a goal. Katie Hinsdale (Arlington, Va./Yorktown) rounded out the scoring with one goal and one assist. Margaret Maslyn (Penn Yan, N.Y./Penn Yan Academy) earned the victory in goal during her first collegiate match, turning away nine shots and allowing six goals.

Gannon improved to 1-0 with its season-opening victory. Erskine dropped to 1-2. The Lady Knights continue their Spring Break trip Tuesday, March 1 at Pfeiffer (N.C.). Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m.

For a complete box score from Saturday's Gannon-Erskine women's lacrosse match, please click here.