Bishop Guertin players celebrate one of their 12 goals in Tuesday's season-opening girls lacrosse win over Souhegan at Stellos Stadium. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – You never know what to expect sometimes in a season opener.

But new Bishop Guertin High School head girls lacrosse coach Callie Santos got exactly what she felt she’d see from her team in a 12-4 win over local rival Souhegan Tuesday at Stellos Stadium.

The Cardinals, semifinalists a year ago, scored the first four goals of the game, led 6-1 at the end of the first quarter and 8-3 at the half. It was their game from the start.

“I think the girls came out really strong, which was awesome to see,” Santos said. “Seeing them come out with such intensity is super important. As we move forward, it’s maintain that intensity throughout the entire game.”

Guertin got three goals each from Kamryn Schmitt (with an assist) and Ariana Kouchalakos, plus two each from Lauren Redfern, Abby Lynn and Anna Campel. Redfern, Campel and Skylar Naftali added assists.

But the player who may have set the tone for the Cards was goalie Maddy Eder-Linell. She stopped the first shot of the game, went on to finish with seven saves, most at key moments when it looked like the Sabers might have a chance to start a run. Her first save may have set the tone.

“It absolutely did,” Santos said. “Maddy playing the way in which she did today was phenomenal; I think she stepped up for her teammates in so many different ways, as a communicator, as someone making stops. She did a great job.”

So did Sabers goalie Catie Shriever, whose five saves helped thwart Guertin from running away and hiding, until they scored four third period goals to grab an 11-3 lead. Lyla Kimball led Souhegan with two goals, a draw control and four caused turnovers. Other key Sabers were Liby Kennedy (goal, two assists, draw control), Natalie Heimarck (goal), and Maddie Lim (draw control, three caused turnovers.

But Souhegan just wasn’t able to make a dent in BG’s pace. In many ways this was a learning experience.

“We have a young team, a ton of potential,” Sabers coach McKinley Curro said. “It’s a great way to start the season to kind of get a test off the first game to see what we need to work on … We just need to fine tune a lot of things.”

Including getting off to a better start.

“They (BG) came out hungrier … And we were playing at a deficit the entire game. Next one.”

That will be Friday at home vs. Nashua North, while the Cards head to the seacoast Thursday for a big matchup with Portsmouth, who eliminated them in the semis last year.

Santos has to hope for as solid a game as they played yesterday.

“We told the kids to focus on what they could control, focus on keep doing what they were doing,” Santos said. “They maintained that intensity and fire throughout the game. That’s how we were able to be confident with what we were doing.”

Souhegan’s Isabelle Stevenson, left, tries to pressure an elusive Bishop Guertin’s Skylar Naftali during Tuesday’s season opener for both at Stellos Stadium. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Being the season opener, this was Santos’ first career win as the Cards head coach. A Guertin alum, she joined the staff midway through last season, and she and former head coach Leslie Why just reversed roles. They talked about it last spring and got the go-ahead from athletic director Ryan Brown.

“It’s really exciting to be back, be in the role that I’m in,” Santos said. “Having the opportunity to be at the head of this is something I’ve always wanted to do. It’s a really great start to the season, and I’m looking forward to the rest of it.”

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