Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Sophomore Hannah Tavella (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) tallied four goals and first-year Gina Newsome (Danbury, Conn.) recorded five assists to help lead the University of New England women's lacrosse team to a 15-3 non-conference victory over Thomas College in the mutual season opener Monday afternoon at the Big Blue Turf.

Tavella scored on every shot she took (4-for-4), while as a team, the Nor'easters found the back of the cage on 15 of 20 attempts at goal. Newsome finished with seven points on the day after adding two goals of her own -- the same number of markers notched by senior Jenna Barton (Wolfeboro, N.H.) and juniors Cara Cole (Norwood, Mass.) and Emily Lodge (Lyman, Maine).

Lodge grabbed a game-best seven draw controls for Big Blue (1-0), which, after surrendering the initial score of the contest, reeled off the next 14 to assume control.

For the Terriers (0-1), first-year Jennifer Day (Gardiner, Maine) scored a pair of goals -- both in the second half. Junior Ceara DiBiase (Westbrook, Maine) registered the game's first goal 1:37 into the match, and secured six draw controls on the day.

Sophomore starting goalie Samantha St. Pierre (Mechanic Falls, Maine) posted four saves in just over 22 minutes of action to get credit for the win for UNE, which also received scores from sophomore Cassidy Ruocco (Dover, N.H.), first-year Nikki Smith (Shapleigh, Maine), and first-year Hannah Warren (Harrison, Maine).

The Nor'easters return to action on Saturday at Wellesley College (1 p.m.).

Thomas -- which got five stops from junior Teshia Cates (Skowhegan, Maine) -- next visits Elms College on March 10.


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