Corsairs Clinch LEC Tournament Spot on Senior Day

DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Needing a win to advance to the Little East Conference (LEC) Tournament for the first time in four years, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth lacrosse team did just that, defeating Castleton, 11-9, on Senior Day.
 
The Corsairs finish the regular season 3-13 and 2-5 in the LEC, exceeding the expectations of the preseason coaches poll. The Spartans close their year 2-16 and 1-6 in the LEC. Prior to the game, the team honored its five seniors: Kara McLaughlin, Bella Mancini, Christine Pye, Sara Orton, and Kylie Dias.
 
Sophomore Mellany Sanchez Alvarez led the team with six goals, while classmates Widline Thomas and Erin Donovan each added two scores. Senior Kara McLaughlin had the team high with three assists. Junior goalkeeper Payton Conceicao finished with 15 saves to earn the win.
 
Things started competitive as both teams were fighting for the final playoff spot. Castleton got on the board first, but Thomas evened the score with a free-position goal at the 1:57 mark to make it 1-1 after the first quarter.
 
UMass Dartmouth pulled away in the second. Three goals by Sanchez Alvarez, and one from Donovan boosted the Corsairs ahead to a 5-1 advantage. The lone goal of the quarter for the Spartans came with 5:03 on the clock, but senior Sara Orton and Thomas each scored to make it a 7-2 game at the half.
 
Castleton made things interesting in the third. The Spartans exploded for the first five goals of the second half to even the score at seven at the 6:22 mark. Donovan and Sanchez Alvarez gave the Corsairs some life back with a goal each to put UMass Dartmouth up, 9-7, after three.
 
The Spartans cut it to a one-goal game to start the fourth, but scores by Sanchez Alvarez and saves from Conceicao secured the victory.
 
Sixth-seeded UMass Dartmouth travels to third-seeded Keene State for the quarterfinal round of the LEC Tournament on Tuesday at 5 p.m.