BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Sophomore Hannah Tavella (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) scored the game-tying goal with 44 seconds left in regulation, and then netted the only two markers of overtime to lift the University of New England to a 15-13 win over Curry College in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) women's lacrosse opener for both teams Saturday afternoon (Mar. 24) at the Big Blue Turf.
UNE had not trailed in the match until Curry sophomore Haley Corey (New Milford, Conn.) found the back of the cage with 3:16 left in the second half, moving the Colonels in front, 13-12. After earning a free-position shot inside the final minute of regulation, Tavella sent the game to an extra frame.
In the overtime session, Tavella made it 14-13 with 1:04 gone in the initial 3-minute portion. Once the teams switched ends for the second 3-minute portion, Tavella won the draw and took it down field herself before upping the cushion to two after 26 seconds.
The Nor'easters won the last three restarts in the extra period, despite seeing Curry capture 21 of the first 29 in the contest.
Big Blue's triumph was just the second in the last eight meetings with the Colonels, and improved the UNE overall mark to 6-2 (1-0 CCC). With its third straight setback, Curry's record evens out at 3-3 (0-1 CCC).
Tavella tallied six goals and two assists on the day, while seniors Jenna Barton (Wolfeboro, N.H.) and Jesalyn Dvorak (Windsor, Conn.) notched three goals apiece. First-year Gina Newsome (Danbury, Conn.) added three assists for the Nor'easters, who out-shot their opponents by a 32-24 margin.
For Curry, sophomore Mel Brickey (Chelmsford, Mass.) led the way with five scores, eight draw controls, and four caused turnovers, and Corey chipped in with four to go with three assists. Junior Ana Bottary registered three points, on one goal and two helpers.
The battle with tightly contested throughout, as things were even on the scoreboard four times prior to the whistle ending regulation (2-2, 4-4, 5-5, 12-12).
After Bottary cut into the Colonels' three-goal halftime deficit (10-7) with the initial marker of the second half, back-to-back scores by Dvorak pushed the UNE lead to its largest (12-8) with 19:39 on the clock.
Curry struck for the next four to tie the match -- Brickey had two in the stretch.
UNE sophomore goalie Samantha St. Pierre (Mechanic Falls, Maine) made six saves to earn the win, and the defense was aided by classmate Johanna Currier (Holderness, N.H.), who finished with four of the team's 21 caused turnovers.
The Colonels received 12 stops from senior netminder Maria Lynch (Billerica, Mass.). Curry next hosts Endicott College on Wednesday (4 p.m.).
The Nor'easters return to action Tuesday for a non-conference tilt against New England College. Game time at the Big Blue Turf is 4 p.m.
