Box Score

DUDLEY, Mass. -- Eight different players scored during the opening 30 minutes as the University of New England built a 12-3 cushion, on its way to a 17-7 The Commonwealth Coast Conference women's lacrosse triumph over Nichols College at Vendetti Field Saturday afternoon.

The Nor'easters (3-6, 2-4 TCCC) received a season-best four-goal performance from sophomore Cara Cole (Norwood, Mass.), who added three assists to her game-high point total. First-year Hannah Tavella (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) chipped in with three goals and two assists for Big Blue, which out-shot its opponent by a 28-15 margin and finished with a sizeable edge in draw controls (19-7).

Junior Jenna Barton (Wolfeboro, N.H.) also had three scores, while senior Danielle Cate (Boscawen, N.H.) and junior Jessy Dvorak (Windsor, Conn.) each tallied two goals for UNE in support. First-year Gina Iannazzi (Methuen, Mass.) picked up a match-high five draws, and classmate Johanna Currier (Holderness, N.H.) caused three turnovers.

For Nichols (1-5, 1-4 TCCC), first-year Kathleen Dudziak (Williamstown, Mass.) led the way with four goals. Junior Krista-Jean Forand (Plymouth, Mass.) recorded the remaining three markers.

UNE first-year goalie Samantha St. Pierre (Mechanic Falls, Maine) made two saves to earn the win for the Nor'easters, who return home for a non-conference tilt with nationally-ranked Bowdoin College on Sunday (1 p.m.).

The Bison, who got two saves in the initial 13 minutes from junior starter Jennifer Brigham (Bristol, R.I.) before classmate Danielle Mott (Cranston, R.I.) made six stops the rest of the way, take on Lasell College on Monday (7 p.m.).