MILTON, Mass. – The Curry College women's lacrosse team came out on top after a close battle with the Salem State Vikings on Thursday night. The 6-4 victory moves the Colonels' record to 2-0 after a pair of non-conference wins to start the year. The loss puts the Vikings in the wrong column to open their season at 0-1.
Coming off a dominating 21-0 performance in their season opener, Curry kept their offense rolling by starting the scoring five minutes into the contest with a Katie Parker (Branford, Conn.) goal, getting a helping hand from freshman Brigid Avery (Lexington, Mass.). Just over three minutes later, however, Curry goalie Jessica Ginaitt (Warwick, R.I.) surrendered her first goal of the season, allowing Tara McLaughlin (Woburn, Mass.) to knot the score at one with an unassisted marker. The tie would hold for over ten minutes, until a foul by Rose Sullivan (Charlestown, Mass.) inside the critical scoring area gave Curry their fifth free position chance of the game. Despite Curry going 0-4 on their earlier free position shots, Andria Torres (Milford, Conn.) put the Colonels back on top with her first goal of the season with 8:22 remaining in the half. Less than two minutes later, junior middie Abby Dubel (Wolfeboro, N.H.) extended the lead to 3-1 with an unassisted tally. Following the ensuing draw control, Marissa McClellan (Saugus, Mass.) found Taylor Lund (Woburn, Mass.) who found the net to draw the Vikings back to within one at 3-2, but the score would hold until the half.
After an abbreviated half time to limit the players' exposure to the dropping temperatures, Salem State showed they would not be fazed by the shortened break by netting two goals in the first two minutes. Curry started the half by winning the draw control, but after a save by Gianna DeNisco (Peabody, Mass.) and a Viking clear, McLaughlin found the net again to reinstate the tie at 3-3. Just 14 seconds later, Lund found her way past the freshman Ginaitt as well, giving Salem State their first lead of the day at 4-3. The scoring would continue shortly after, but this time it was Dubel, registering her second goal of the day, after Averill Herr (Canaan, Vt.) got the ball back by forcing a turnover. With the score once again knotted, the clock wound down under the ten minute mark before a failed clear by the Vikings allowed Curry to creep ahead at 5-4 as Dubel notched her second hat trick in as many games. After a pair of Salem State fouls following the draw control, the Colonels doubled their lead as Kayla Merritt (Attleboro, Mass.) converted a free position shot, which would stand as the final goal of the day. With the two score lead, the Colonels worked down the clock and limited their opponents' offensive chances, which was enough to seal the deal. Curry heads to spring break outscoring opponents 27-4 on the year.
Curry was led by Dubel in this one, who lit up the stat sheet with three goals, 11 ground balls, three draw controls and five caused turnovers. Despite not putting up any points on the evening, Sharon Doherty (North Easton, Mass.) also contributed significantly to the victory, picking up five ground balls and posting six shots, five of which were on goal. Ginaitt earns the win in net by collecting nine saves. McLaughlin and Lund each notched a pair of goals in the contest while DeNisco grabbed 16 saves minding the net.
Curry returns to action next week for another pair of non-conference tilts. The Colonels head to Hilton Head, S.C. for an 11:00 a.m. start against Wooster on Monday, March 11 to start spring break. Later in the week, Curry will face Potsdam on Wednesday, March 13 at 11:00 a.m., also in Hilton Head. The Vikings will head south as well for a pair of games, matching up with Keene St. on Monday, the 11th at 4:30 p.m. before squaring up with Fredonia at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 14. Both games will be played in Englewood, Fla.
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