Livingston, Burke highlight record-setting win over UNE, 22-19

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. - Junior Sarah Livingston (Westford, Mass.) racked up a school-record 10 points (six goals, four assists) to lead the Salve Regina University women's lacrosse team to a 22-19 win over University of New England in The Commonwealth Coast Conference opener for both schools Friday evening at Gaudet Field.

Sophomore Kelly Burke (Georgetown, Mass.) also etched her name in the SRU record books by tying the SRU record with seven goals as the Seahawks (1-2) picked up their first win of 2011. Sophomore Megan Clancy (Chelmsford, Mass.) picked up her first collegiate hat trick while senior Nicole Viola (Scarborough, Maine) and freshman Grace Kelly (Auburn, N.Y.) each tallied twice. Burke and Viola each dished out two assists as the Seahawks also broke the school-record by compiling 32 individual points (22 goals, 10 assists).

"We came into today's game focused. We knew that in order to achieve the goals we have set for ourselves, we had to get this conference win," said Seahawks head coach Jen Eldridge. "We had some outstanding performances on offense today. We did a strong job possessing the ball in the midfield and getting the passes into our offensive end."

Senior Danielle Cate (Boscawen, N.H.) paced the Nor'easters (1-2) with five goals while junior Jessy Dvorak (Windsor, Conn.) potted four and sophomore Cara Cole (Norwood, Mass.) notched three. Junior Jenna Barton (Wolfeboro, N.H.) and freshman Sadie MacLean (Henniker, N.H.) each picked up two assists. The Seahawks outshot the Nor'easters 26-13 in the first half and took an 11-7 lead into halftime. Livingston and Burke each recorded three goals each for SRU while Dvorak and MacLean each netted two goals for UNE. After the Seahawks scored the first five goals of the second half - including a pair by Livingston - the Nor'easters outscored them 12-6. UNE finished the period with a 19-12 edge in shots, but could not get closer than three goals.

Junior Natalie Balletta (Leominster, Mass.) made seven saves to earn her first win of the season in goal. Freshman Samantha St. Pierre (Mechanic Falls, Maine) stopped eight Salve Regina shots in the loss.

The Seahawks return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Massachusetts for a 6 p.m. contest at Bridgewater State. The Nor'easters return to action on March 16 when they face Mount Holyoke at McDaniel College in Westminster, Md. at 7 p.m.