Livingston's late goal sends Seahawks past Pilgrims, 18-17

HENNIKER, N.H. - Salve Regina University's Sarah Livingston (Westford, Mass.) scored with just seven seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Seahawks past the New England College Pilgrims 18-17 in women's lacrosse action Saturday night.

With the win, the Seahawks improve to 4-6 overall and even their The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) record at 3-3. The loss drops the Pilgrims to 2-5 on the season and 1-4 in TCCC play.

The two teams exchanged goals early in the contest before the Seahawks netted three-straight, including two from Livingston, to build a 4-2 lead. NEC scored the next three goals of the game to regain its early lead up 5-4 midway through the opening half.

The Seahawks answerd, closing out the half outscoring the Pilgrims 5-1 to grab their largest lead of the evening (9-7) heading into halftime.

NEC came out of the half with three-straight goals to knot the game at nine. Salve Regina's Molly Shine (Southborough, Mass.) scored a goal to put the Seahawks back on top, but again NEC went a run, scoring three goals to capture its first lead of the game since early in the opening half.

The two teams battled back-and-forth through the majority of the second half before NEC's Amanda Naimie (York, Maine) and Emily Kuchta (Norwalk, Conn.) netted back-to-back goals to give the Pilgrims the 16-13 advantage with 8:08 remaining.

Salve Regina then scored three goals, including a free position goal from Kayla Sheehan (Pomfret, Conn.), to tie the game at 16-16 with 3:28 on the clock. NEC's Diana Lynas (Rowley, Mass.) put the Pilgrims back on top 17-16 at the 1:40 mark with her sixth goal of the season.

The Seahawks didn't down as Kelly Burke (Georgetown, Mass.) recorded her team-high 40th goal of the season with 48 seconds left to play to knot the game at 17. The Seahawks controlled the ensuing draw, and Livingston converted on a pass from teammate Karley Malenczak (Sayville, N.Y.) from behind the net, giving Salve Regina a 18-17 lead with seven ticks on the clock.

The Pilgrims won the final draw control, but time expired before the Pilgrims could muster a shot and the Seahawks would go on to record the 18-17 victory.

Livingston finished with four goals and two assists while Burke netted three goals and had an assist. NEC's Amanda Naimie finished with a game-high five goals and Emily Kuchta scored three times and had an assist for the Pilgrims.

Salve Regina's Natalie Balletta (Leominster, Mass.) finished with 13 saves. In goal for NEC was Caroline Doherty (Miller Place, N.Y.), who recorded 14 saves on the evening.

(Courtesy of New England College sports information)