DAVIS, Calif. -- Senior goalkeeper Grace Richards tallied a career-high 17 saves while senior attacker Sorana Larson and sophomore midfielder Mar Alvear each scored hat tricks, leading UC Davis to a 15-10 win over UMass Lowell in the Aggies' 2019 season-opening women's lacrosse game at Aggie Stadium Friday afternoon.

Richards improved on her previous high of 16 saves, set in overtime last year against San Diego State during the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title contest. UML outshot its hosts by a 34-32 margin, but the net play from the human development major from Bel Air, Md., kept UC Davis in front for almost the entirety of the game.

Junior Amanda Outcalt led the Aggies with five total points, scoring a goal and adding four assists. Larson and Alvear each supplemented their hat tricks with an assist for four points. Senior Shannon Cross chipped in another two goals and two assists. Juniors Maddie Myers and Kate Graham also scored two goals apiece while combining for 10 draw controls.

For UMass Lowell, midfielder Kristina Keith scored a hat trick but needed 12 shots to reach that total. Five of her misses came against Richards saves, while another was blocked by Aggie co-captain and defender Natalie Garces.

UC Davis never trailed in the contest, although the River Hawks managed to tie the game at 2-2 in the eighth minute, then again at 4-4 midway through the first half. Outcalt then dished out three assists during a 5-1 run before halftime, giving the Aggies a 9-5 lead. Larson's hat trick goal in the 32nd minute and Alvear's eight-meter goal in the 34th made it five straight and an 11-5 advantage. 

UC Davis protected at least a five-goal margin for the remainder of the game, thanks in large part to Richards' nine saves in the final 26 minutes of play.

The Aggies host Big Ten Conference member Michigan on Saturday at 6 p.m.
 

UMass Lowell (0-1)	5	5	-	10
UC Davis (1-0)	9	6	-	15

GOALS - UML: Kristina Keith 3, Paige MacEachern 2, Samantha Blair 2, Kendyl Finelli 1, Cameron McKelvin 1, Rebecca Idson 1. UC DAVIS: Sorana Larson 3, Mar Alvear 3, Shannon Cross 2, Maddie Myers 2, Kate Graham 2, Amanda Outcalt 1, Jacqueline Kelly 1, Natalie Wilson 1. 

ASSISTS - UML: Kendyl Finelli 2, Paige MacEachern 2, Lauren Hopsicker 1, Cameron McKelvin 1. UC DAVIS: Amanda Outcalt 4, Shannon Cross 2, Mar Alvear 1, Sorana Larson 1.

GOALIE SAVES - UM: Renee Gonzalez 8 (60:00). UC DAVIS: Grace Richards 17 (60:00).

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ABOUT UC DAVIS: Providing a small-town community feel while providing a world-class academic experience, UC Davis is home to more than 37,000 students and centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa Valley. The No. 5-ranked public university in the nation according to the Wall Street Journal, and among the top 10 public universities nationwide according to U.S. News and World Report, UC Davis offers nearly 100 graduate programs and more than 100 academic majors across four colleges and six professional schools, ranking among the world and nation's best in numerous disciplines, including veterinary science, agriculture, and plant and animal programs.

AGGIE EVO: Established in 2017-18, the Aggie EVO System is UC Davis Athletics' investment in the primary mission of preparing student-athletes for a successful "launch" after graduation. Thanks to a collaboration of alumni, university resources, corporate partners, coaches and Student-Athlete Outcomes staff, all Aggies are guided over four years to acquire the skills, knowledge, opportunities and tools to better know and navigate the "World of Work" after graduating from UC Davis. Follow the Aggie EVO system on Twitter and Instagram at @AggieEVO.