WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Mount Ida College posted a convincing 15-5 victory over the University of Saint Joseph in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's lacrosse opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon.
Nicole Pavao (Peabody, Mass.) scored seven goals to lead Mount Ida and Alyssa Kelly (Lee, Mass.) had three goals and five assists for the Mustangs. Pavao and Kelly each also picked up seven ground balls apiece.
Rose St. Hilaire (West Hartford, Conn.) scored three goals and Hannah Lemek (Bristol, Conn.) scored two for USJ. Chelsea Longo (Watertown, Conn.) picked up a team-best four ground balls for the Blue Jays and Diamond Wallen (Hartford, Conn.) caused three turnovers.
USJ got off to a quick start as Hilaire scored the first two goals of the game in the first six minutes, but Kelly scored with 19:48 remaining in the first half and Pavao followed with two goals. She got her first on a free position shot with 18 minutes left in the half and tallied an unassisted goal 33 seconds later and the Mustangs would not trial again.
It was 6-2 Mount Ida before St. Hilaire scored her third for USJ. The Mustangs led 8-3 at halftime and USJ would not get closer than five goals in the second half. Mount Ida outshot USJ 29-18 overall and put more shots on goal, 24-10.
Nikki Kineen (Salem, N.H.) and Emily McConnell (Lowell, Mass.) each scored twice for the Mustangs, and Samantha Basler (Plymouth, Mass.) also netted a goal, while Jackie Tarsook (Derry, N.H.) made five saves to earn the win between the pipes.
Mount Ida improved to 2-5 overall and will travel to Framingham State on Wednesday at 3:30 pm.
USJ (2-2) is next in action when they host Southern Vermont on Thursday, March 31st at 4:00 pm.