BOSTON, Mass. – The University of New England clenched a spot in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) women's lacrosse postseason tournament with a 24-10 win over Wentworth Institute of Technology Tuesday afternoon at Sweeney Field.
The Nor'easters move to 7-8 overall, and close out the regular conference season with a 4-4 record. The Leopards drop to 6-9, and finish with a 2-6 record against league components, the most wins Wentworth has ever posted in conference play.
The Nor'easters scored 14 goals in the first half, led by three goals from freshman Keara Dwyer (Cazenovia, N.Y.). UNE sophomore Megan O'Grady (Georgetown, Mass.) opened the scoring 56 seconds in, before Wentworth freshman Emily Rogers (Pembroke, Mass.) equalized the score just 12 seconds later. The Nor'easters went on the offensive, scoring nine straight goals, including two apiece from Dwyer and Anna Stowell (Sutton, N.H.). O'Grady converted on a free position shot to set the clock running, 12-2, but the Leopards scored to back-to-back free position goals of their own from juniors Leah Cummins (Plymouth, Mass.) and Brooke Paradis (Pelham, N.H.) for the 12-4 score. Cummins was last to score for Wentworth with 3:47 left in regulation, after senior Jolena Lampron (Lyman, Maine) and Dwyer put two back on the board for UNE to hold a 14-5 advantage at halftime.
The Nor'easters' defense limited Wentworth to just five goals in the second half, despite Paradis scoring the first goal 50 seconds in on a free position shot. Dwyer scored two more goals for UNE in the frame, including an unassisted goal with 16:08 left to play to give UNE a 20-9 lead, the most goals the Nor'easters had scored all season.
Rogers scored four goals in the setback, and won 10-of-17 draw controls, one shy of her season-best. Cummins scored three goals for her first hat trick of the season, while Paradis drove two home to round out double-digit scoring for the Leopards. Sophomore Julie Dam (Milford, Mass.) added one goal in the effort.
Seven Nor'easters finished with double digits on the scoreboard, paced by five goals and three assists from Dwyer. Lamrpon followed with four goals and four ground balls, while Conwell, Stowell, and junior Mackenzie Collins (Gorham, Maine) each finished with a hat trick. Defensively, Stowell and Lampron caused four turnovers apiece, while senior Kasey Rubenstein (Somers, N.Y.) scooped up a game-high seven ground balls.
Freshman Lily Kuhns (Gloucester, Mass.) made ten saves in the loss, while junior Liz Gunning (Northport, N.Y.) made four saves in just under 10 minutes of relief. Junior Maritza Nary (Dover, N.H.) earned the win in between the pipes for UNE, making seven saves in first-half action, while freshman Taylor Hopkins (Pelham, N.Y.) made four saves in second-half relief.
Wentworth finishes out the season with a home game on Thursday vs. Wheelock College.
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