Box Score DARTMOUTH, Mass. -- Freshman Beatriz Tavares (New Bedford, Mass.) converted a free position shot with 3:07 remaining in the match, as UMass Dartmouth overcame a four-goal first half deficit to notch a 9-8 non-league college women's lacrosse victory over Salem State Saturday afternoon at Cressy Field.
The host Corsairs (2-2) saw the visiting Vikings (1-2) build a 4-0 advantage midway through the first half thanks to tallies from four different players, but senior Sam Muir (Sturbridge, Mass.) netted a pair of goals that sliced UMass Dartmouth's deficit in half at the break. Sophomore Bella Mancini (Bellingham, Mass.) collected a hat trick in the opening 5:27 after intermission as part of a six-goal run that gave UMass Dartmouth a 6-4 cushion with 24:33 to play, but Salem State received a pair of markers off the stick of sophomore Marissa McClellan (Saugus, Mass.) and scored four times in an 8:28 span to take an 8-7 cushion on sophomore Amanda Bradley's (Peabody, Mass.) goal with 13:20 remaining.
Tavares took control of the contest for the Corsairs from that point, as she evened matters on a feed from Muir less than three minutes later before providing the eventual game-winner. Muir won the ensuing draw control that gave UMass Dartmouth possession for the final three-plus minutes of action and enabled the hosts to close out their triumph.
Muir finished with a hat trick and two assists for five points in the win for the Corsairs, who also received a goal off the stick of sophomore Hannah Niemi (Fairhaven, Mass.). McClellan notched a hat trick in the setback for the Vikings, who received two tallies from junior Tara McLaughlin (Woburn, Mass.) along with a marker and helper from junior Kirsten Bradley (Peabody, Mass.).
Senior Bridget Harrington (Florence, Mass.) picked up her second victory of the season with a nine save effort in net for UMass Dartmouth, while freshman Charlotte Orth (Bourne, Mass.) registered seven stops for Salem State. The Corsairs outshot the Vikings by a 23-22 margin overall and held a 10-8 edge in draw controls for the afternoon.
Both teams will travel to Regis for their next respective outings, as UMass Dartmouth will head to Weston, Mass. on Wednesday, March 18th to square off with the Pride at 7:00 pm. Salem State takes on Regis on Tuesday evening in a contest that also begins at 7:00 pm.
(Photo Credit: Bridget Bagana '22)
