ELKINS, W. Va. — The Davis & Elkins College women's lacrosse team opened the 2026 season with a pair of dominant home victories Saturday at Nuttall Field, defeating Emory & Henry College, 20-4, and the University of the District of Columbia, 20-2, to begin the year 2-0.

The Senators controlled both contests with balanced scoring, strong defensive pressure, and consistent possession throughout the day.

Game One: Davis & Elkins 20, Emory & Henry 4

Davis & Elkins set the tone early in its season opener, building an 11-2 halftime lead behind an aggressive offensive attack and steady defensive play.

Morgan Rogers led the way with four goals and one assist, while Savannah Quave and Malia Galan each added three goals. Talia Berardo finished with two goals and four assists, directing the offense, and Rylee Anderson chipped in two goals and one assist.

The Senators dominated possession, collecting 59 ground balls and forcing 26 turnovers. Zoe Mackey led the team with eight ground balls and eight draw controls, while Berardo added six ground balls and three caused turnovers. Alexia Gonzales and Rylee Anderson each recorded six and seven ground balls, respectively, as Davis & Elkins consistently won loose-ball battles.

Defensively, the Senators applied pressure throughout, causing 17 turnovers. Mackenzie Mullan led the team with five caused turnovers, while Berardo added three and Anderson with four.

In goal, Megan Bauer anchored the defense with nine saves, allowing just four goals in 60 minutes of action.

Davis & Elkins held a 50-19 advantage in shots and continued to pull away in the second half, extending its lead to 17-2 entering the fourth quarter before closing out the victory.

Game Two: Davis & Elkins 20, District of Columbia 2

The Senators carried their momentum into the nightcap, opening the game with seven first-quarter goals and building an 11-0 lead by halftime.

Rogers, Savannah Quave, and Rylee Anderson each scored three goals to pace the offense, while Galan and Ke'ya Stevens added four points apiece. Berardo contributed two goals and one assist, and 10 different Senators found the back of the net.

Davis & Elkins once again controlled possession, finishing with 69 ground balls and forcing 24 turnovers. Quave, Mackey, and Berardo picked up seven ground balls. Sierra Walesheck, Galan, and Isla Avant each recorded four ground balls, helping maintain consistent pressure.

On the defensive end, the Senators caused 16 turnovers. Alexia Gonzales and Mackenzie Mullan led the team with four and three caused turnovers apiece, while Rogers and Anderson each added two.

Goalkeeping was a key factor in the victory, as Bauer, Harriet Johnson, and Daelyn Hardnack combined to allow just two goals. Bauer recorded two saves in her 15 minutes of action, Johnson added one save, and Hardnack stopped one shot in 30 minutes to close the game.

The Senators limited the Firebirds to just nine shots and held them scoreless in the first half.

Rogers reached the 100-point milestone during the doubleheader, becoming the third Senator in program history to do so.

Up Next

Davis & Elkins returns to action Saturday, Feb. 21, when it hosts Tiffin University at 1 p.m. at Nuttall Field.