Quincy, Ill. - The Quincy University women's lacrosse team opened their season on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 8) with a 12-11 win over the Davenport Panthers. Despite a deficit in the first quarter, the Hawks battled for the one-goal edge on the Panthers. 

Amelia Ham got things started with a free position goal in the second minute of the game. Anni Moran added a tally with a shot to the corner to make it 2-0. Madison Whiting Wagner made her first key save of the game on a free position shot from the Panthers just a minute later. The Panthers turned around and scored four unanswered goals, three within three minutes, in the first quarter. 

The Panthers got one more on the board before the Hawks were able to respond. Ham found Moran on a quick toss in front of the net for her second goal of the game. Jaynie Chatman scored her first goal of the season a few minutes later after back-to-back penalties from the Panthers gave the Hawks a two woman-up advantage. The Panthers responded with two goals of their own before the Hawks could inch back in with another Ham free position goal. 

The Hawks had a quick start to the second half with a draw control by Emily Leal that led to a Ham shot and Alaina Wilkinson goal. Ham followed with another goal in the quarter before Moran tied things up with a quick shot off Ham's dish. The Panthers' late free position goal was quickly nulled by another Ham-Moran combination. 

With the game tied at nine, the Hawks had to hustle for the upper hand. Ham gave the Hawks the advantage of at the start, this time assisted by Emily Leal. The Panthers tied things up after spending some time in the Hawks defensive zone. Leal scored her own after causing the Panthers to lose the ball in attack. A free position goal for the Panthers in a woman-up opportunity tied things up once again. Amelia Ham got her final free position opportunity shortly after, scoring the shot and putting the Hawks up by one with four minutes to go. 

Ham had a role in 10 of the Hawks goals--five goals and five assists. Leal led the Hawks with five draw controls and two caused turnovers. Whiting Wagner led the team in ground balls with four and had 12 saves in her first full game in net. 

The Hawks hit the road for President's Day weekend with a two-game battle against G-MAC opponents Ashland University and Thomas More University, hosted by Thomas More.