ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings women's lacrosse team earned an 11-10 victory over the Cornell Rams on Tuesday, to pick up their first program win against the Rams.

In the opening period, Augie quickly got on the board after a successful free-position goal by Elena Bechard to grab the early lead. Madison Langewisch followed a minute later with a goal of her own off a pass from Becca Lacina. Lacina notched one of her own with 10:38 on the clock, with Jackie McNair earning the assist to create a 3-0 game. Cornell found the back of the net for the first time 30 seconds later, and the teams remained scoreless until Lagnewisch tallied her second goal off a pass from Lacina. In another free position attempt, Bechard found the back of the net to make a 5-1 score after 15 minutes of play. 

Bechard quickly found the back of the net once more, a minute into the second period. The Rams put up another point two minutes later on a free-position goal to move the game to 6-2. Leah Greiber collected a goal from Lacina to move the game back to a five-point difference, but Cornell scored straight off the draw control. The Rams put up another with 1:47 on the clock in a woman-down situation before Em Dornbusch secured a fastbreak goal with 23 seconds on the clock. Cornell grabbed another goal straight off the draw control to make an 8-5 game entering the halftime break.

Returning to action, Colleen Chiavola put a shot to the back of the net off a pass by McNair due to Langewisch causing a turnover. In a woman-up situation, Dornbusch tallied another goal with Bechard notching the assist to double the score at 10-5. The Rams followed with two of their own in the final two minutes of action to create a 10-7 game heading into the final 15 minutes of play.

In the fourth period, Cornell put up two more points in the first five minutes to get within one point before evening the score at 10 with 7:21 on the scoreboard. After four scoreless minutes, Augie maintained possession after a high shot attempt where Langewisch came from behind the net to regain the one-point advantage. The Rams attempted a shot in the final seconds of action, with Eva Karjalahti saving the attempt. With two seconds on the clock, Cornell had another chance to score, but Karjalahti protected the net once again to seal the victory. 

Bechard and Langewisch led the team with three goals apiece, while Lacina notched three assists. Maren George and Chiavola caused three turnovers, and Langewisch won five draw controls. Karjalahti closed the game with 12 saves in their 60 minutes in goal. 

With the win, Augie improves to 3-0 on the season, which is good for the best start to a season since 2014. The Vikings will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 28 for their first road game of the season at Edgewood.