COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Led by a career-high five goals from senior Jen Giles, the No. 2 Maryland women's lacrosse team surged past George Mason, 16-5 in the season opener on Saturday afternoon.
 
"Happy with our team and the way we played today," said head coach Cathy Reese. "We had some really good things happen and then obviously some things that we need to work on. We generated a lot of offense today, didn't shoot particularly well. Defensively, we did a good job of limiting their possessions and had more shot clock violations than we typically have in the past, which was really nice to see. Great start to the season for the Terps."
 
The offense was led by Giles, who was a perfect four-for-four on free position attempts and had an assist to go with her five goals. Senior Caroline Steele and junior Kali Hartshorn each had a hat-trick as well to pace the Maryland offense. In her first ever game with the Terps after transferring from Canisius, graduate student Erica Evans contributed with two goals and two assists.
 
Senior Megan Taylor stopped half of the George Mason shots on goal, including four of five in the second half. Maryland forced six Patriot turnovers, with six different Maryland players pitching in for one. Senior Shelby Mercer tied a career-best and led the Terps with three groundballs and tallied her first ever assist on the opening goal of the season.
 
That opening goal was a fast-break opportunity with a perfect outlet pass from Mercer to Hartshorn who put it home. Giles was a perfect three-for-three from free position in the first half while both Steele and Evans each had two goals to give Maryland a 9-4 lead at halftime. Sophomore Grace Griffin assisted on two of Maryland's first three goals.
 
Maryland scored the first five goals of the second half, with five different players putting one home, including goals by seniors Meghan Siverson and Kelsey Cummings. Taylor backlined the Terps, making four  saves and not allowing a goal until halfway in the half.
 
Giles got her career-high on a free position goal with nine minutes left to make it 15-5 before assisting Hartshorn for the final goal of the game.
 
The Terps will now travel to No. 6 Florida and face the Gators on Thursday, February 14 at 7:00 p.m.