Box Score

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- The University of New England women's lacrosse team jumped out to a three-goal advantage in the first 11 minutes and never trailed in an 8-6 season-opening victory over Wellesley College Saturday afternoon in the rain at the Wellesley Fields Complex.

The Nor'easters kicked off their season with a win for the first time since the 2001 campaign, and topped the Blue Pride for the first time in four tries. UNE had been outscored 56-7 in its three previous setbacks to Wellesley.

Junior Danielle Cate (Boscawen, N.H.) opened up the scoring 6:26 into the contest off a pass from senior Mallory Long (Lewiston, Maine). Long tallied the first of her three goals just over a minute later, and Cate struck again at the 19:03 mark to give UNE a 3-0 lead.

Wellesley junior Jenny Holland (Bethesda, Md.) answered back with both of her goals to reduce the deficit to one (3-2), only to see Long notch another score with 6:21 to go in the first half that put the visitors up at the break, 4-2.

The teams traded the next six markers over the first 20 minutes of the second frame until UNE first-year Cara Cole (Norwood, Mass.) found the back of the cage for her second goal with 3:16 to play to push the Nor'easters' cushion to 8-5.

Blue Pride senior Caitlin Meeker (Columbia, Md.) scored with just over two minutes remaining, but UNE junior Tara Geraghty (Barrington, R.I.) made a pair of key stops in the final moments to preserve the lead.

Geraghty finished with 15 saves, the second-highest total of her career. Cate matched Long's three scores to pace the offense.

Senior Molly Morrow (Bow, N.H.) had two goals and an assist for Wellesley (1-1), and junior Mary Mattia (Atlanta, Ga.) made six stops between the pipes. The Blue Pride host Tufts University on Tuesday.

The Nor'easters return to action Thursday (4:30 p.m.) for their home-opener against nationally-ranked Colby College.