Seahawks keep playoff hopes alive, down New England College 17-9

NEWPORT, R.I. - Junior Nicole Viola (Scarborough, Maine) and freshman Kelly Burke (Georgetown, Mass.) each scored five goals to propel the Salve Regina University women's lacrosse team to a 17-9 win over New England College in The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) action on Senior Day Saturday afternoon at Lawrence Avenue field.

Senior Sarah Burke (Summit, N.J.) added two goals and three assists for the Seahawks, who improved to 5-10 (2-7 TCCC) on the season and kept their playoff hopes alive. With wins against Regis (Mass.) on Monday and Nichols on Wednesday, the Seahawks will earn the conference's eighth and final playoff spot.

The Seahawks led 7-4 at halftime behind a pair of goals from Viola, senior Erika Curtin (Huntington, N.Y.), and freshman Hannah McAvoy (Saco, Maine). The Pilgrims scored the first three goals of the second half to tie the score at seven, but Burke answered with three-straight tallies to give her 32 on the season and SRU a 10-7 lead. Viola potted the next two goals of the contest, and Burke's fourth of the game with eight minutes left pushed the SRU lead to 13-7 and put the game away.

Freshmen Danielle Malconian (Belmont, Mass.) and Rachel Porter (Franklin, Mass.) each caused three turnovers to lead the Seahawks while Burke collected a team-high six ground balls. Sophomore Natalie Balletta (Leominster, Mass.) stopped six shots to improve to 5-10 on the season.

For the Pilgrims, sophomore Amanda Naime (York, Maine) and freshmen Katie Palasz (Granby, Mass.) and Miranda Tinsman (Belgrade, Maine) each scored twice. Palasz caused a team-high three turnovers while senior goalkeeper Alexandra DiRico (Limerick, Pa.) scooped up a team-high four ground balls while making 20 saves in net.

Salve Regina outshot the Pilgrims 45-24 on the afternoon and held a 28-16 edge in ground balls. NEC won 15 of the 28 draw controls on the afternoon but committed 22 turnovers, compared to 14 for the Seahawks.

The Seahawks host the Pride Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. while the Pilgrims need help to qualify for the conference tournament. They have completed their regular season and currently occupy the eighth and final playoff position, but need SRU to lose one of its remaining two games to advance to the tournament. A pair of wins gives the Seahawks the final spot and eliminates NEC.