NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The Norwich University women's lacrosse team suffered 13-3 setback to Plattsburgh State University in the Cadets' season opener on Sabine Field at Haynes Family Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

Maddie Etherton (Johnstown, N.Y.) led Norwich, ripping in two goals past the Cardinals' Johanna Malone in the opening 15 minutes, while Quinn Mustone (Medford, Mass.) added a goal in the third quarter.

Plattsburgh State opened the contest on back-to-back goals from Emma McLaughlin in the opening two minutes and never looked back, despite Etherton's first score cutting the lead down to 2-1.  Caitlin Nash promptly added another just seconds later, before Etherton's second whittled the two-goal edge back down to one.

The Cardinals gradually began to find comfort, especially after the halftime break, ending the contest with seven unanswered goals after Mustone's unassisted score halfway through the third stanza.

McLaughlin paced the Plattsburgh State offense with nine goals.  Maeve Noble-Lowe (Freedom, Maine) made 14 saves between the pipes for the Cadets. 

Norwich will return home on Saturday, Mar. 4, for a 1:00 p.m. duel against Fitchburg State College.  The Cadets will then kick off Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action the following weekend, hosting Saint Joseph's College of Maine on Saturday, Mar. 11.