DARTMOUTH, Mass.— University of Massachusetts Dartmouth freshman
Melanny Sanchez Alvarez (Stamford, Conn.) registered a team-high five points, including her first collegiate hat trick, but it wasn't enough to slow down Eastern Connecticut State University's high-powered offensive attack this evening as the Warriors earned the 22-9 non-conference victory at Cressy Field.
Eastern Connecticut recorded at least 20 goals for the sixth time on the campaign to improve to 7-1, while the Corsairs slipped to 0-2.
UMass Dartmouth accounted for its highest scoring output of the season as six student-athletes collected a point. Sanchez Alvarez led the Corsairs with four goals and an assist, while sophomore
Beatriz Tavares (New Bedford, Mass.) scored a pair of markers. Junior
Bella Mancini (Bellingham, Mass.) potted a goal and won a team-high four draws, while classmate
Hannah Niemi (Fairhaven, Mass.) and freshman
Hannah Mitus (Belchertown, Mass.) also found the back of the net. Freshman
Claire Petersen (Hubbardston, Mass.) and classmate
Widline Thomas (Stamford, Conn.) each collected six ground balls.
Sophomore Caroline Stent (Weatogue, Conn.) filled up Eastern Connecticut's ledger with nine points, including five markers, and eight draw controls, while classmate Jessie Pyrek-Bennett (Monroe, Conn.) scored a game-high six markers. Sophomore Chloe Miller (Avon, Conn.) turned in a balanced effort with four goals and a pair of helpers, and senior Sydney Hogan (Northford, Conn.) contributed four points and six ground balls.
Eastern Connecticut jumped out to an early 2-0 advantage, but Beatriz cut the deficit in half just under three minutes, 30 seconds into the contest. The Warriors quickly pushed their advantage to 8-1, but the Corsairs scored three of the next four markers to cut the deficit to 9-4. Stent keyed a three-goal surge with back-to-back tallies to increase the lead to 12-6, but Sanchez Alvarez struck for two goals within 20 seconds. Eastern Connecticut carried a 15-7 advantage into the halftime intermission.
UMass Dartmouth opened the scoring in the second half, but the Warriors strung together six consecutive goals to secure the victory.
In between the pipes, sophomore Sarah Gallagher (South Windsor, Conn.) made six saves to earn the victory, while freshman
Tahlia Amaral (Acushnet, Mass.) backstopped the hosts with a season-high 16 stops.
UMass Dartmouth will return to action at 12pm on Saturday, April 10, when the Corsairs travel to Plymouth State for a Little East Conference match.
