BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England women's lacrosse team used a strong defensive effort and a game-high three goals from Paige St. George to defeat Curry College, 12-5, in an opening-round game of the 2016 Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship Saturday afternoon (April 30) at the Big Blue Turf.

The third-seeded Nor'easters (11-6) advance to Wednesday's semifinal round and will travel to Beverly, Mass. to take on second-seeded Endicott College at a time to be determined.

St. George came off the bench to tally her game-leading goal total. Korinne Bohunsky and Kimberly Gosselin each scored twice for the Nor'easters, while Nicole Carvalho contributed a goal and three assists.

For Curry (10-8), Kelly Parker and Hannah Peper scored a pair of goals apiece. Alexis Cran played a strong match, finishing with seven ground balls, five caused turnovers, four draw controls and two assists.

UNE got off to a strong start, holding the Colonels scoreless over the opening 24:17 while scoring six times. The Nor'easters featured a balance attack during that stretch with six different players scoring goals. 

Peper would notch back-to-back goals in the closing stages of the frame to cut the Colonels' deficit to four (6-2) before halftime.

Curry tallied three of the first five goals of the second frame to get within three (8-5), but UNE rattled off four unanswered goals to close out the match.

Goalkeeper Courtney Kendall had seven saves to post the win for the Nor'easters, who got six caused turnovers and five ground balls from Jolena Lampron. Davee chipped in five caused turnovers and five ground balls.

UNE led in both shots (30-23) and ground balls (30-26) while converting 5 of 9 free-position attempts.

Annie Douglas had 11 stops for Curry, and Parker came up with six draw controls to help her team to a 13-6 margin in that category.  (Game Recap Courtesy of University of New England Sports Information)