MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Carthage College women's lacrosse team opened their 2018 season on Saturday night with a convincing road win in the Twin Cities, defeating Augsburg University, 12-11.
 
The win starts the Lady Reds off at 1-0 in 2018, while Augsburg opens at 0-1.
 
Carthage built a comfortable lead early in the first half as a 4-0 run to start the game quickly gave the Lady Reds the momentum.  The Lady Reds pushed the lead to six, 7-1 at the 14:12 mark and it looked as though the Lady Reds were going to walk away with a win handedly.  However, a late 5-2 run by the Auggies tightened the game to a three-point goal at half, 9-6.
 
The momentum continued in Augsburg's favor out of the halftime break, as the home team extended a 2-0 run to close the half into a 6-0 run to take their first lead of the night, 10-9, with 15:52 left in the game. 
 
Thankfully, the Lady Reds were able to right the ship and regain the lead following a 3-0 run that saw a pair of goals from freshman, Jessie Gibson, and one from reigning CCIW Newcomer of the Year, Nicole Bowman, to put Carthage back up for good, 12-10.
 
Gibson, in her Carthage debut, finished as the leading scorer in the game with six goals on ten shots and controlled a match-high nine draws.  Rachel Mussell and Kendell Santin each had a pair of goals and Bowman and Megan McNamara, who was making her return to the Lady Reds, each scored once.
 
Heather Martin led the defensive effort with five ground balls and Bowman caused six turnovers to lead the Lady Reds.   
 
In goal, Maggie Allen had 13 saves in the win, with three coming after Carthage took the lead late in the game.
 
The Lady Reds return to play in Minneapolis on Sunday, as Carthage faces Hamline University at 4:00 p.m.