Fast start propels Golden Bears past Seahawks, 13-8

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – Freshman Jessica Scannapieco (Blue Bell, Pa.) led all players with six points on six goals as the Western New England University women's lacrosse team jumped out to a 5-0 lead on their way to defeating Salve Regina University by a score of 13-8 during a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) contest at Gaudet Field on Saturday afternoon. The loss drops the Seahawks to 6-3 overall and 0-2 in the conference, while the Golden Bears improve to 4-6 on the season and 1-1 during CCC play.

Junior Kelly Burke (Georgetown, Mass.) had a team-high five points and five goals for the Seahawks, while fellow junior Jennifer Jones (Basking Ridge, N.J.) compiled three points on two goals and an assist in the loss. Senior Sarah Livingston (Westford, Mass.) rounded-out the scoring with one goal for the Seahawks, while freshman Mary-Ashley Donelan (Upton, Mass.) led all players with seven ground balls and four caused turnovers. Sophomore Josie O'Reilly (Middletown, R.I.) made a game-high 15 saves while earning the tough-luck loss in net for the Seahawks.

Scannapieco paved the way for the Golden Bears offense with her six goals, while senior Megan Doyle (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) totaled three points on two goals and one assist. Senior Liz McRoberts (Bourne, Mass.) added a pair of goals, while junior Ali Pepe (North Reading, Mass.) compiled three points on two goals and one helper. Freshman goalie Emily Castleman (Wilbraham, Mass.) made 11 saves to earn the win in net, improving to 4-6 on the season.

The Golden Bears opened the game on a 5-0 run over the first 7:40 of play. Doyle and McRoberts got the scoring started, before Scannapieco netted three straight goals to give the Golden Bears an early 5-0 lead.

McRoberts completed the first half scoring with an unassisted marker to send Western New England into the break holding an 8-4 advantage.

Pepe scored the opening goal of the second half for the Golden Bears, which Burke answered with an unassisted talley to keep the Seahawks within four at 9-5.

Freshman Sarah Stevens (Stratford, Conn.) followed with an unassisted marker at 15:48, but Burke once again responded for the Seahawks, scoring a free position goal just 45 seconds later.

However, Scannapieco then netted a pair of goals within 32 seconds of each other to give the Golden Bears their largest lead of the day, 12-6.

The Seahawks fought back by scoring two of the final three goals of the game, receiving free position goals from both Jones and Burke, but eventually fell by the final score of 13-8.

Both teams return to conference action on Tuesday, as the Golden Bears host Nichols at 4 p.m., and the Seahawks travel to face Roger Williams at 7 p.m.