Women's lacrosse coasts past Lions, 16-7

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – The Salve Regina women's lacrosse team jumped out to an early 5-0 lead before soaring to a 16-7 non-conference victory over Emerson College on Thursday evening at Gaudet Field. The win improves the Seahawks to 8-3 overall, earning the team its most wins in a season since they captured a program-best nine victories in 2002. With the loss, the Lions fall to 3-4.

Junior Kelly Burke (Georgetown, Mass.) led the Seahawks with a team-high six goals and five draw controls in the victory, while senior Sarah Livingston (Westford, Mass.) compiled four points on three goals and one assist. Junior Jennifer Jones (Basking Ridge, N.J.) and sophomore Grace Kelly (Auburn, N.Y.) both had three points on two goals and an assist, while junior Danielle Malconian (Belmont, Mass.) led all players with six ground balls on the evening. Sophomore goalie Josie O'Reilly (Middletown, R.I.) stopped 13-of-20 shots in net to earn her eighth victory of the year.

Sophomore Tracie Lombardo (Seaford, N.Y.) paved the way for the Lions with a team-high six goals, while also leading all players with six draw controls. Freshman Marlee Galper (Santa Monica, Calif.) had both a goal and an assist, while junior goalie Emily Saeger (Center Valley, Pa.) took the loss in net despite making 12 saves.

The Seahawks went on a 5-0 run to begin the game, receiving two goals apiece from both Burke and Livingston to grab the early lead.

The Lions responded by scoring two of the next three goals, both on unassisted markers from Lombardo to claw back within four at 6-2.

The Seahawks stretched their lead to 9-2 by scoring three goals within 1:12 of action. Freshman Gina Tortorici (Deer Park, N.Y.) got the scoring started with an unassisted tally at 10:21, before Livingston set up McAvoy (Saco, Maine) for her lone goal of the game at 9:51. Kelly capped the three-goal run with a free position score to give Salve Regina a seven-goal cushion.

Lombardo countered for the Lions with her third unassisted marker of the half, before the Seahawks received goals from both Cory Conley (Norwell, Mass.) and Jones to take an 11-3 advantage.

Lombardo finished the first half scoring, taking a feed from Galper and finding the back of the net with just 36 seconds remaining in the frame to send the two teams into the break with the Seahawks holding an 11-4 edge.

The Seahawks began the second half with three goals in the opening four minutes of play. Livingston and Jones both scored unassisted tallies before Burke found the back of the net on a free position shot to give Salve Regina their largest lead of the day, 14-4.

The Lions outscored the Seahawks 3-2 the rest of the way, receiving two goals by Lombardo and another from Galper, before the clock finally ran out, sealing the 16-7 victory for Salve Regina.

The Lions return to action on Saturday, traveling to face Emmanuel (Mass.) at noon, while the Seahawks won't take to the field again until next Wednesday when they hit the road to face Nichols in a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) contest starting at 4 p.m.