Rebounding from a big loss is never easy, especially when it’s a conference opponent in a key matchup. The season continues, however, as the next game is an opportunity to get back on track and put the team in a position to win and boost the confidence of the players and coaching staff.

That confidence came into play for the New Haven women’s lacrosse team who now sit at .500 on the season as they put together a dominant display of offense in a huge 23-8 win over American International College (AIC) on Saturday afternoon. Eleven players tallied a goal for the Chargers, taking the lead in the opening two minutes of the first quarter and never looked back.

AIC struck first just one minute and eight seconds into the game on a free-position goal by midfielder Gabrielle Walz, but quickly became a 1-1 game as New Haven attacker Raegan Bailey netted her own free-position shot for the first of her five goals on the day.

A turnover caused by Bailey set up New Haven’s next scoring chance as attacker Cameryn Antler put the Chargers ahead by one with a free-position shot, followed by another goal from Bailey and one from midfielder Ivanna Hernandez in the next minute and a half of play to make it a three-point game.

After a goal by attacker Marielle Colalillo that stretched New Haven’s lead to four, AIC went on a run in the next three minutes that quickly brought it back to a one-point game. A turnover from AIC set up another scoring chance for the Chargers, which turned into attacker Savannah Ernst’s first of five goals on the afternoon to take a 6-4 lead going into the second quarter.

The second quarter was dominated by New Haven, outscoring AIC 10-2 to break the game wide open. Bailey started the offensive explosion just 26 seconds in for her third goal of the game, followed by Ernst’s second of the game that was set up by her own ground ball pickup.

After a goal by AIC attacker Antonella Mikolyuk made it a four-point game, New Haven rattled off six consecutive goals to go ahead by 10 with 3:38 left to play in the first half. Everything seemed to be going New Haven’s way, scoring 10 goals on 16 shots as Ernst finished off the quarter with a goal with just four seconds remaining.

New Haven’s defense also made an impact, allowing just two goals and seven total shots in the second half. AIC did not score until 5:14 left in the third quarter as they looked to generate scoring chances and bring themselves to a respectable deficit, but the Chargers continued to dominate on both sides of the ball to keep them playing from behind.

Midfielder Shauna Curran tallied the 20th goal of the game for New Haven in the fourth quarter as they continued to pour it on and add to their lead. Scoring three goals in the final six minutes, the Chargers put an emphasis on their huge win as they found themselves back at .500 on the season coming off two consecutive losses.

New Haven will stay at home for their next matchup against Mercy College in a non-conference matchup on Tuesday. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. as the Chargers look to improve to 6-5 on the season before a crucial stretch, all against conference opponents as they look to make a playoff push.