GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Today the Calvin women's lacrosse team opened its 2025 season with a commanding 11-3 victory over the Pilots of Bethel University.
 
Senior Meghan Chang (Clarksburg, Md./Clarksburg) opened the scoring for the Knights when she found the back of the net just four minutes into the game. A few minutes, freshman Delaney Johnson (Spring Lake, Mich./Spring Lake) connected with junior Jacey Smith (Watertown, Wis./Watertown) who sent the ball past the Pilots goalkeeper to extend the Calvin lead. 
 
Bethel answered with a goal of their own just before the end of the first quarter before Johnson got in on the scoring action in the second quarter to give Calvin the 3-1 lead heading into halftime.
 
As the second half got underway Smith wasted no time recording her second goal of the day as she scored just forty seconds into the third quarter. Bethel tried to fight back as they notched two back-to-back goals, but the Knights refused to let up as junior Morgan Bethard (DeWitt, Mich./DeWitt) got in on the scoring action and Smith completed her hat trick.
 
The Knights dominated the fourth quarter as they outscored the Pilots 5-0 with goals from Chang, Smith, Johnson, Audrey Booher (Fishers, Ind./Heritage Christian), and Anneliese Hanson (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North).
 
The Knights out shot Bethel 35-14 and picked up 24 ground balls compared to the Pilots 17. 
 
Smith finished as the Knights leading scorer with four goals while Chang and Johnson finished with two. Sophomore Alex Petrusma (Milford, Mich./Milford) picked up a team high four ground balls while also notching three forced turnovers. Chang led Calvin with five forced turnovers.
 
COACHES COMMENTS: "I thought the team handled themselves very well today," said head coach Blake Boehm. "Everyone experienced some first game jitters and moments of chaos in the first half that left us a bit frazzled, but our defense kept us ahead on points going into the half. 

We made some adjustments at the half and came out with better composure which allowed us to pull away. We improved our play in transition and on the offensive end considerably in the second half. It was good to see the team navigate these challenges as a cohesive unit and come away with the win."
 
UP NEXT: The Knights will be back in action on Saturday, March 1st when they travel to take on John Carroll University at 2PM.