INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – McKendree University women's lacrosse opened its 10th season of intercollegiate competition here Friday afternoon with a 19-3 setback to preseason No. 2 ranked University of Indianapolis in a non-conference game at Key Stadium.

The Bearcats, who are scheduled to play seven games in 2022 against nationally-ranked foes, open a season with a loss for the first time since 2019 when the Bearcats fell 15-12 at home to Rockhurst. The Greyhounds open the season 1-0.

UIndy opened the game by scoring nine goals in the first quarter and never looked back as they outshot the Bearcats, 45-8, on the day and held a 15-7 edge in ground balls.

In fact, the 'Hounds led 10-0 after scoring a goal just a little more than three-plus minutes in the second period, before the Bearcats would score its first goal of the season at the 9:49 mark of the second period. The first goal of the season was scored by graduate student midfielder Oriana Johnson (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) off an assist from junior attacker Kat Albrecht (Louisville, Ky./Eastern).

After UIndy added two more goals to make it 12-1, Albrecht would score with 11 seconds left on a free position shot to cut UIndy's lead to 12-2 at the half.

UIndy outshot McKendree, 22-4 in the first half as they benefitted from 11 Bearcat turnovers and had an 8-5 edge in ground balls.

In the third period, the Bearcats added their third goal as Albrecht once again would tally an unassisted goal to pull the Bearcats within 13-3 with a little more than three minutes left in the period.

The 'Hounds, though, would answer by scoring seven straight goals, including tallying six of them in the fourth period to set the final margin.

Albrecht led the way for McKendree with two goals and an assist for three points and also added three shots, while Johnson finished with a goal and also took three shots and had two ground balls. The other two shots on the day were taken by sophomore defender/midfielder Olivia Julian (Indianapolis, Ind./Bishop Chartard) and freshman Shauna Curran (Bolton, Mass./Nashoba Regional). Curran was making her collegiate debut on Friday.

While Johnson had two ground balls, she was tied for the team lead in that category with freshman attacker Sophia Scheller (St. Louis, Mo./Lafayette).

Abigail Lagos led the way offensively for UIndy with five goals on 11 shots, while Kylee Manser added four goals on five shots and Quinn Malcolm and Sarah Klein each had three goals in the win. Mackenzie Winn had three assists in the win.

Junior Clara Andrews (St. Louis, Mo./Nerinx Hall) played all 60 minutes in goal for the Bearcats as she made eight saves on the day.

Audrey Moran and Cassidy King each played 30 minutes in goal for UIndy and Moran earned the win as she recorded two saves and allowed two goals, while King allowed one goal and made three saves.

McKendree was just 9-for-18 on clears, while UIndy was a perfect 10-for-10.

The Bearcats will return to action on Sunday, Feb. 20 as they face 20th-ranked Davenport in a 2 p.m. ET non-conference game at Key Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind.