DEMOREST, Ga. - The Rhodes College women's lacrosse team scored 13 first half goals and led by as many as 11 in the second half as the Lynx rolled by the Piedmont Lions for a 20-12 win to start the 2017 season 1-0 on Saturday afternoon at the Walker Athletic Complex. 

The Lynx were dominant statistically, out shooting the Lions 45-21 including a 33-18 advantage in shots on goal. Rhodes forced 26 turnovers and held Piedmont to 12 of 23 in clear attempts. Rhodes also held a 19-11 advantage in draw controls.

The Lynx jumped out to a 2-0 lead behind goals from juniors Olivia Holmes and Kendall Cunningham. After a Lions goal, Cunningham scored two consecutive goals to put the Lynx ahead 4-1.

After Piedmont cut the deficit to 4-2, Rhodes scored three straight goals from junior Ashley Doyle, Holmes, and junior Erin Gleeson. 

Rhodes made it an 8-3 lead behind a goal from sophomore Annika Hedlund, the Lions scored four straight goals to make it a one goal game. 

The Lynx responded by closing the half with five straight goals. Doyle and Hedlund led the scoring off followed by a goal with a man down by Cunningham. Junior Maggie Rippeto closed the half with two goals to make it 13-7 at the break.

The run continued into the second half as Rhodes scored four consecutive goals beginning with Rippeto's third goal followed by goals from seniors Ashley Dill and Lindsay Gess and another goal from Rippeto to take a 10 goal lead.

Rippeto scored her fifth goal of the game while Rhodes got goals from junior McKenna Davis and freshman Brynly Marsh. Piedmont scored four of their five second half goals in the final 10 minutes with the game already decided as Rhodes cruised to the 20-12 victory.

Rippeto scored five goals to go with four assists for nine points while Cunningham had four goals and two assists to go with three draw controls and two caused turnovers. Gess and Doyle had two assists while Hedlund added an assist. 

Defensively, Dill led way with three caused turnovers while Hedlund and junior Rachel Windmueller each had two. Windmueller and junior Katherine Tooley each had two ground balls while Tooley had six saves in the win. 

Caitlin O'Brien led Piedmont with four goals on the afternoon while Rowan Bumpass added three.

Rhodes will have a quick turnaround as they head to Montgomery, Ala. on Sunday to take on the Hawks of Huntingdon at 12 PM.