ELKINS – The Davis & Elkins College Women's Lacrosse team fell in its season opener to the University of Charleston 20-6 on Saturday on a rain and snow filled day at Nuttall Field.
 
Freshman Seana Soika scored a debut hat trick to lead the Senators.
 
The Senators struggled to get adjusted early against the Golden Eagles, as the visitors scored eight-straight goals in the first 9:17 of the game to take a commanding lead.
 
Gabby Fagan then put the Senators on the scoreboard with her first goal of the season, on an unassisted effort from a free-position attempt.
 
After Charleston added five more goals to take a 13-1 lead, sophomore Kathleen Shaw scored her first goal of the season on a great individual effort in open play.
 
Freshman Seana Soika would grab her first-ever goal for the Senators shortly before the half, taking the draw control and moving quickly down the field to score nine seconds later.
 
Soika would then start the second half with another goal, this time from a free-position attempt just 35 seconds into the period.
 
Following three goals from Charleston, Shaw would grab her second goal of the game, also on a free-position attempt.
 
Charleston would add three more goals before the end of the contest, but Soika would cap off her hat trick with the final goal of the game, coming on another unassisted effort following a foul.
 
The Senators will now have two weeks off before returning to action at Sweet Briar College. The Senators will travel to Virginia to face the Vixens on March 2, with a start time set for 6 p.m.