Women's Lacrosse Edged by Salve Regina, 9-8

By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Alix Madden (Plymouth, Mass.) scored with 1:28 remaining, allowing the Salve Regina University lacrosse team to edge Bridgewater State University, 9-8, Saturday afternoon at Mazzaferro Field.

The Bears (0-2) had rallied from a two-goal deficit to tie the game earlier in the fourth period and also pulled even, 8-8, with less than four minutes to play.

But Madden, a junior, scored her second goal of the day to give the Seahawks a road victory in their season opener at Mazzaferro Field.

Senior Meredith Sylvia (South Dartmouth, Mass.) led BSU with three goals while sophomore Taylor Carter (East Walpole, Mass.) added a pair of goals.

Sophomore Madison Maire (East Moriches, N.Y.) had three goals for Salve Regina while Madden and freshman Avery Nistl (South Hamilton, Mass.) scored two apiece. Madden also added an assist.

Sophomore Sara Skaff (Lowell, Mass.) stopped eight shots for the Bears while Seahawks sophomore goalkeeper Mary Flynn Kayajan (Hyannis, Mass.) had 15 saves.

BSU held a 2-1 lead 6:22 into the game on goals by junior Rosemary Lally (Marion, Mass.) and sophomore Lizzy Deacon (Amesbury, Mass.) after Nistl had opened the scoring.

Salve Regina took a 3-2 lead after one period on goals by junior Daniella Bruno (Niantic, Conn.) and Maire.

Madden made it 4-2 with a goal 1:43 into the second period, but BSU pulled even at 4-4 at halftime on goals by Sylvia with 6:20 left and again with 2:11 to go, assisted by senior Katie Lamothe (Dartmouth, Mass.).

Carter scored 5:17 into the second half to give BSU a 5-4 edge, but Maire tied it with 4:18 left in the third period and freshman Teagan McDonald (Florence, Mass.) put the Seahawks up, 6-5, with 2:22 to go in the period. 

Five minutes into the final period, Maire scored from Bruno for a 7-5 Salve Regina lead, but the Bears tied it with goals by junior Erin Henn (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) with 8:56 left and Sylvia with 7:27 to go.

Nistl, assisted by Madden, gave the Seahawks an 8-7 lead with 6:48 left, but Carter tied it with 3:51 remaining before Madden scored the game winner.

The Bears had a quality chance to tie the game with time winding down, but sophomore Sophia Fleurent's (Fairhaven, Mass.) bid in the waning seconds was stopped by Kayajan.

The Bears held a 28-18 shot advantage for the game as well as a 13-6 edge in draw controls.

Fleurent led all players with eight draw controls and now has 99 in her career. She also forced three turnovers.

Salve converted 3 of 4 free position attempts while Bridgewater went just 3-for-8 on the free position.

Ground ball were 15-11 in favor of the Seahawks. Sophomore Adelaide Baird (Springfield, Va.) notched a game-best five ground balls an added two caused turnovers.

BSU is scheduled to host the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in the Black History Month game on Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Salve Regina plays Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Johnson & Wales.