Box Score
Post-Game Interview

WENHAM, Mass. -- Junior Hannah Tavella converted a pass from sophomore Gina Newsome with 6:52 left to provide the go-ahead score as No. 6 University of New England topped third-seeded Gordon College, 11-10, in the opening round of the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Women's Lacrosse Championship played Saturday afternoon (Apr. 27) at the Brigham Athletic Complex.

With their second victory over the Fighting Scots (12-3) this season, the Nor'easters (7-9) advance to face No. 2 Endicott College in the semifinals on Wednesday (4 p.m.). To view the championship bracket, click HERE.

After Gordon opened the scoring on the day, UNE came back with six goals in the next 10 minutes to assume a 6-2 lead midway through the 1st half. The Scots then countered with the final three scores of the frame to cut the deficit to one (6-5) at intermission.

The hosts pulled even as the 2nd period began, only to see Big Blue respond with three unanswered goals to take a 9-6 cushion at the 20:32 mark. Tavella tallied the last two in the short stretch.

Gordon bounced back once again, as Anna Blomberg notched her second of the afternoon and Jessica Castelline scored for the third time to reduce the margin to 9-8.

UNE sophomore Hannah Warren pocketed her second marker of the match to make it 10-8 with 14:08 on the clock, but Castelline and Bailey Grinnell each found the back of the cage within the ensuing four minutes to knot things up at 10-10.

Once Tavella gave the visitors an edge on the scoreboard with her fifth goal of the afternoon, the Fighting Scots could not make up the difference before time elapsed.

Tavella's closing goal was the 171st of her career, moving her past the 170 by Ashley MacDonald '08 (3 seasons) to the top of the list in UNE program history.

Newsome added two goals to the Nor'easters' cause, and her assist on the game-winning score was number 33 in 2013, matching the school single-season record that she established a year ago.

Also matching a program single-season record in the game was first-year goalie Courtney Kendall. She totaled six saves to get up to 197 on the year, equaling the mark of Amy Williams '08 during 17 contests in 2005. Kendall turned aside a last-ditch effort by Gordon inside the final minute of play to preserve the advantage.

Juniors Johanna Currier and Cassidy Ruocco both gave solid performances for Big Blue, combining for nine ground balls and six caused turnovers. Additionally, Currier corralled a game-best eight draw controls.


Click HERE to watch the post-game interview with Hannah Tavella, Johanna Currier, and Courtney Kendall