Contact: Curt Smyth, SID                                                                                                        
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MACDONALD, PELLERIN HELP NOR’EASTERS RALLY PAST R.I.C.

UNE overcomes school-record 11-goal performance by Caitlin Gavin

BIDDEFORD, Maine – Ashley MacDonald ’08 (Billerica, Mass.) tallied a career-high seven goals and Ashley Pellerin ’07 (Hollis, Maine) set her career mark with five as the University of New England overcame a halftime deficit to beat Rhode Island College 19-15 in women’s lacrosse action on Monday afternoon.

The victory evened the Nor’easters record at 1-1, while the Anchorwomen dropped their first outing. RIC played the entire game two players down (12 on ten) and nearly came away with a win.

RIC got off to a early 3-0 lead just over six minutes into the match.  The teams went back-and-forth for the rest of the half, with the Nor’easters grabbing their first lead of the game (8-7) on a Whitney Blais ’08 (Hollis, Maine) goal with 2:10 remaining.  Caitlin Gavin ’07 (Portsmouth, R.I.) took the lead right back by notching her fifth and sixth goals of the game to give RIC a 9-8 advantage heading into intermission.

The contest remained tight throughout much of the second frame until Pellerin ’07 scored consecutive goals 20 seconds apart, putting UNE ahead for good (15-13) with just over 11 minutes to play. 

For the Nor’easters, Blais finished with a career-high four goals, while Megan Trusselle ’06 (South Berwick, Maine) added three.  Amanda Chase ’08 (Danvers, Mass.) handed out two assists and teamed with Sam Robinson ’08 (Loudon, N.H.) to combine for 13 of the team’s 20 draw controls.  Goalie Amy Williams ’08 (Bridgewater, N.H.) recorded 13 saves for the win.

Gavin set a Rhode Island College single-game record with 11 goals, while tying a RIC record for most points in a game with 12.  Melissa Reggio ’08 (Commack, N.Y.) contributed two goals, and goalie Sydney Culbertson ’08 (North Kingston, R.I.) made 11 saves in a losing cause.

The Anchorwomen are off until Thursday when they travel to Curry College.  UNE takes to the field again on Wednesday for a non-conference home match versus Castleton State College.

Team (record)                                                   1          2       Final

Rhode Island College (0-1)                                  9          6            15        

University of New England (1-1)                         8         11            19

Goals: RIC, Caitlin Gavin 11; Melissa Reggio 2; Crystal Colagiovanni 1; Kerry McDevitt 1. UNE, Ashley MacDonald 7;

Ashley Pellerin 5; Whitney Blais 4; Megan Trusselle 3.

Assists: RIC, Melissa Reggio 1; Caitlin Gavin 1; Crystal Colagiovanni 1. UNE, Ashley MacDonald 2; Whitney Blais 2;

Ashley Pellerin 2; Amanda Chase 2; Megan Trusselle 1.

Goalies: RIC, Sydney Culbertson 11; UNE, Amy Williams 13.