Team effort propels Seahawks to first conference win, 14-3, over Anna Maria

NEWPORT, R.I. - Freshman Kelly Burke (Georgetown, Mass.) scored four goals and senior Erika Curtin (Huntington, N.Y.) added three more to lead the Salve Regina University women's lacrosse team to a 14-3 win over Anna Maria College in The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) women's lacrosse action Saturday afternoon at the Lawrence Avenue field.

Senior Sarah Baker (Summit, N.J.) added a goal and six assists for the Seahawks (2-7, 1-4 TCCC), who snapped a four-game losing streak and picked up their first conference win of the season. Sophomore Katie Schebel (Ludlow, Mass.) tallied twice for the AMCats (2-9, 1-6 TCCC).

The Seahawks raced out to an 8-0 lead in the first 18:18 of the contest behind three goals from Burke and a pair from Curtin. Anna Maria answered with three-straight tallies - including two from Schebel - before SRU sophomore Lia Lanzo (Holmdel, N.J.) and senior Angelina Campbell (Falmouth, Maine.) closed the half with goals to give the Seahawks a 10-3 halftime lead.

In the second half, the Seahawks scored three times in the opening 3:59 of the stanza to build a 10-goal lead (13-3). Senior Erin Donnelly (South Windsor, Conn.) capped the scoring with her first of the season at 11:08.

"Overall, this was a great team effort," said Salve Regina head coach Jen Eldridge. "We pulled together today and were able to try a few different things. It feels good to get our first conference win."

Senior Nicole Viola (Scarborough, Maine.) finished with a goal and two assists for Salve Regina while Lanzo scored twice and sophomore Sarah Livingston (Westford, Mass.) also added a goal. Freshman Danielle Malconian (Belmont, Mass.) led the team with three ground balls while Campbell and senior Whitney Loeb (Hollis, N.H.) each won three draw controls.

For Anna Maria, sophomore Amelia Richard (Mashpee, Mass.) scored her first goal of the season while classmate Amanda Hevy (North Brookfield, Mass.) dished out an assist. Senior Jennifer McCabe (Westborough, Mass.), along with juniors Sarah Moore (Holden, Mass.) and Heidi Toce (Ashland, Mass.), each collected a team-high two ground balls.

Salve Regina outshot the AMCats 42-17 on the afternoon and won 13 of 19 draw controls. They also converted on all but two of their clearing attempts (14-of-16). Sophomore Natalie Balletta (Leominster, Mass.) made five saves to earn her second win of the season while freshman Lourdes Pena (Lawrence, Mass.) recorded 17 saves.

The Seahawks return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Springfield, Mass. for a 4 p.m. contest at Western New England. The AMCats host Roger Williams Tuesday at 7 p.m.