Still looking to work out some of the kinks during non-conference play, Central Connecticut lacrosse was handed a tough 16-4 loss in their home opener Friday against New Hampshire.

As has been the case in their losses this season, the Blue Devils were handily outshot by the Wildcats Friday, finishing the day with 19 shots to UNH’s 36. After keeping things relatively close in the first, CCSU was outshot 17-5 in the second half.

“We have to work to get to a better place to shoot the ball. We’re working and not getting to a good angle, and then we just shoot the ball anyways. It’s trusting in your teammates to be there in an outlet situation and hit someone else coming in the middle versus just taking that shot to take it,” head coach Betsy Vendel said, adding the team would work on shooting at practice.

Catherine Sexton dominated the game for the Wildcats from the start, scoring three goals just over 15 minutes into the game. Sexton’s three goals contributed to a 7-1 lead for UNH with 14:13 still left to play in the half.

The teams battled more closely for the remainder of the first, as CCSU only allowed three goals while putting up two of their own. Carissa Brown, Morgan Sinton and Emma Sullivan scored Central’s three first-half goals. At the buzzer, UNH was able to land a goal that seemingly deflated any momentum CCSU had built.

“[The attackers] were figuring out where the looks were, we were just getting jumpy about it and not being patient for the looks. It was just refocusing them and really focusing on what our game plan was, in terms of what are we looking for, how are we executing and what can we do to be better,” Vendel said of the offensive surge late in the half.

Central was unable to build upon this push throughout the second, only scoring one more goal while drawing five penalties. Sinton would be given two yellow cards in the half, taking her out of the game for the closing minutes.

With just under 20 minutes already gone in the second half, junior Molly Coogan converted on an unassisted goal to set the score at 15-4. The Wildcats would tack on one more goal before the game was over, taking home a 16-4 victory over the Blue Devils.

“It’s tough when you’re playing a stronger team. We put in a lot of new stuff this week, so when things don’t go your way it’s obviously a little bit frustrating, but it’s just staying disciplined. We figured that out the second part of the first half and then we kind of lost sight of that again in the second half,” Vendel said on the loss.

The Blue Devils will look to move on against Manhattan on Wednesday at home, though Monday’s snowstorm may put those plans in jeopardy.