Seahawks fall to Nor'easters on Senior Day

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – The Salve Regina University women's lacrosse team dropped a 20-13 decision to the University of New England during Senior Day at Gaudet Field on Saturday afternoon. The loss drops the Seahawks to 10-5 overall and 3-4 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC), while the Nor'easters improve to 12-3 on the season, including a 6-1 mark during league play.

Prior to the start of the contest, Salve Regina University honored senior captains Sarah Livingston (Westford, Mass.) and Mara-Lise Owen (Germantown, Md.) for all of their contributions to the SRU women's lacrosse program.

Junior Kelly Burke (Georgetown, Mass.) led the Seahawks with a team-high seven points, five goals, and two assists on the afternoon, while Livingston netted three scores. Junior Jennifer Jones (Basking Ridge, N.J.) and freshman Gina Tortorici (Deer Park, N.Y.) each contributed three points on two goals and an assist, while junior Danielle Malconian (Belmont, Mass.) grabbed a team-high seven draw controls and four ground balls.

The UNE offense was paced by sophomore Hannah Tavella (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) who led all players with nine points and seven goals on the day. Freshman Gina Newsome (Danbury, Conn.) added six points on three goals and three assists for the Nor'easters, while junior Carol Cole (Norwood, Mass.) had three goals, two assists, and a team-high six draw controls. Sophomore goalie Samantha St. Pierre (Mechanic Falls, Maine) made 10 saves to earn the victory in net for the Nor'easters.

The Seahawks came out of the gates strong, scoring a pair of goals within the opening five minutes of play to take a 2-0 lead. Jones set up Tortorici for the first goal of the day, and then found the back of the net on a free position shot to give the Seahawks the early two-goal advantage.

The Nor'easters answered by scoring three of the next four goals to tie the score at three-all.

After sophomore Kristie Cox (Nashua, N.H.) scored to regain the lead for Salve Regina, the Nor'easters responded with five consecutive markers, including a pair by Tavella, to take an 8-4 lead.

The Seahawks answered with the final two goals of the half, as Tortorici scored at 8:49 before setting up Livingston at 4:41 to send the two teams into the break with UNE holding an 8-6 advantage.

The Seahawks began the second half by scoring three of the first five goals of the frame, including two unassisted tallies by Burke, to climb within one at 10-9.

The Nor'easters regrouped with a quick timeout, and then scored four straight goals. Tavella started the run with an unassisted marker, while Newsome contributed both a goal and an assist to put the Nor'easters in front by the score of 14-9.

Refusing to go away, Salve Regina rallied back, scoring three of the next four goals, including a pair of markers by Burke, to cut the UNE lead down to 15-12.

However, the Nor'easters then sealed the victory by outscoring the Seahawks 5-1 over the final four minutes of play, including three goals by Tavella, to push the final score to 20-13.

The Nor'easters will return to action on Sunday, traveling to face #12 Bowdoin at 1 p.m., while the Seahawks take to the field on Monday, hosting Daniel Webster at 4:30 p.m.