Women's Lacrosse Falls to UNE, 18-16

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England scored 12 times in the second half to rally past Bridgewater State University, 18-16, in a non-conference women's lacrosse game played Saturday afternoon (March 15) at the Big Blue Turf.

The win improves the Nor'easters' record to 4-1, their best start since opening the 2010 season with seven victories in their first eight matches. Bridgewater State dips to 2-2 on the year.

Junior Gina Newsome (Danbury, Conn.) had five goals -- four after halftime -- to help lead UNE. Senior Hannah Tavella (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) and sophomore Katie Cawley (Cumberland, Maine) notched three goals apiece, while juniors Rachel Schwaner (Holderness, N.H.) and Jessica Deedon (Sherman, Conn.) each tallied two.

For the Bears, freshman Alex King (Weymouth, Mass.) scored a team-high five times. Junior Riley Cachelin (Westwood, Mass.), sophomore Lauren Geary (Hull, Mass.) and freshman Melissa Renauld (Framingham, Mass.) had three goals apiece, and senior Taylor Clancy (Braintree, Mass.) registered a match-high four assists.

Trailing 9-6 at intermission, Big Blue chipped away at its deficit and finally drew even (12-12) on a free-position conversion by Newsome with 14:01 remaining. Deedon would follow just over a minute later to give UNE its first lead of the half, but Geary scored a free-position goal with just over 10 minutes left to tie the score at 13.

After Schwaner and King exchanged goals, the Nor'easters took the lead for good with 6:31 on the clock when Newsome streaked down the middle of the arc and notched an unassisted goal, her fourth of the half.

UNE would score three more times the rest of the way to help offset a pair of goals by Geary.

Schwaner earned a game-high nine draw controls for the Nor'easters, who also received four ground balls and two caused turnovers from both senior Gina Iannazzi (Methuen, Mass.) and freshman Shannen Healy (Bedford, N.H.).

In addition to her four assists, Clancy accounted for five ground balls and five caused turnovers for Bridgewater State, which led 36-29 in shots. Rookie Taylor Brown (Commack, N.Y.) added six ground balls and four caused turnovers.  Geary finished with a team-best seven draws. 

Sophomore Courtney Kendall (Waltham, Mass.) racked up 15 saves to earn the win for UNE. Freshman Allie Forman (Marblehead, Mass.) stopped eight shots for Bridgewater State.

The Nor'easters are off to Long Island, N.Y. on Monday to take on Farmingdale State College at 3 p.m.

Next up for Bridgewater State is a 7 p.m. home game versus Wheaton College on Tuesday.