NORTON, Mass. - The Connecticut College women's water polo team started the season strong, going on the road and defeating host Wheaton College 19-3 on Wednesday night from Balfour Natatorium. With the win, Conn starts the year 1-0, while Wheaton falls to 0-1,

It did not take long for Conn (1-0) to open the scoring, as Sarah Franco (Weston, Conn.) found the back of the net just 13 seconds in. 17 seconds later, the Camels doubled the lead, as Franco connected with Gigi Sandull (Kenilworth, N.J.) to make it 2-0. Two more goals from Sandull, with an assist each from Brooke Brandenburger (Sacramento, Calif.) and Anna Taylor (Pleasanton, Calif.) pushed the Conn lead to 4-0 just 1:06 into the contest. A minute later, Wheaton (0-1) got on the board as Ava Biancheri made it 4-1.

With 5:42 to play in the opening quarter, Franco connected with Ainsley Cornwawall (San Mateo, Calif.) to make it 6-1. Taylor found the back of the net herself, before setting up Cornwall pushing the lead to 7-1. Sophia Romo got a goal back for the Lyons, before Jada Keen (Kailua-Kona, Hawaii) tallied with a minute left, to give Conn a 8-2 lead after one.

Wheaton picked up an early goal in the second quarter on a tally from Allie Taylor, cutting the lead to 8-3. However, the Camels came right back, as Franco found Kendall Foley (Sammamish, Wash.) to push the lead back to six. Keen and Sandull both added one more goal late in the half, as Conn took a 10-3 lead into the break.

The scoring slowed down at the start of the third quarter, until Emma Luna (Wahiawa, Hawaii) found Sandull at 3:41 who extended the lead to 11-3. Sandull added two more goals, before a late marker from Franco, gave the Camels a 14-3 edge heading to the fourth.

The Camels started the final quarter quickly, as Cornwall completed her hat trick. A minute later, Cornwall tallied another goal, as the lead jumped to 16-3. Gicel Zuniga (Norwalk, Conn.) tallied back-to-back goals, before Cornwall added one more, as the Camels came away with the 19-3 win.

Maddie Baybeck (Ann Arbor, Mich.) got the start in goal, making seven saves in 16 minutes of action, while Grace Isola (San Mateo, Calif.) played the rest of the game, making six saves. Sandull paced the Camels with eight points on six goals and two assists, while Cornwall added five goals, Franco notched two goals and four assists, and Taylor added one goal and four assists.. 

It was the first game in program history for Wheaton College, with Amelia Brown getting the start and making six saves. Biancheri tallied the first goal in program history for the Lyons, while Romo and Taylor both added one goal.

Conn continues their season opening road, as the Camels head to Washington, Pa. to take part in the CWPA Eastern weekend hosted by Washington & Jefferson, kicking off action on Saturday morning against Grove City at 11:00 a.m.