SPARKILL, N.Y.- Caldwell University women's lacrosse sophomore Arden Kassaleh (Pompton Plains, N.J.) scored three goals in the Cougars 17-5 loss to Saint Thomas Aquinas College in their season opener.

The Cougars fall to 0-1 on the season, while the Spartans improve to 3-3.

St. Thomas Aquinas scored the first four goals of the game. Caldwell broke through near the midway point of the opening half as junior Rachel Lucia (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.) netted the first Cougar goal of the game.

Kassaleh added a goal two minutes later to cut the score to 4-2. The Spartans pushed ahead 10-2 late in the half. Kassaleh scored a pair of goals late as Caldwell trailed 10-4 at halftime.

Sophomore Amber Raines (Millville, N.J.) scored the lone Cougar goal of the second half.

Junior Nancy Benedetto (Jupiter, Fla.) finished with 11 saves in the loss.

The Cougars are back in action on Sunday, March 18 as they host Molloy College.