Box Score MANSFIELD, Conn. -- Senior midfielder
Paige Schneider (East Lyme) had four goals and sophomore attack
Michelina Pinto (Groton) two goals and two assists in a run of eight straight goals as the Eastern Connecticut State University women's lacrosse team pulled away for an 18-7 non-conference win over Gordon College in its home-opener Tuesday afternoon at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex.
After the teams traded early goal runs that had Gordon (2-1) on top, 4-3, the Fighting Scots were held off the board for 26 minutes during Eastern's eight -goal run that opened up an 11-4 lead four minutes into the second half.
Led by Schneider (six goals) and Pinto (three goals, three assists), Eastern (2-1) got a goal or assist from nine different players in the match en route to its second win over the Fighting Scots in as many years. Junior attack
Katie Burke (South Windsor) chipped in two goals and two assists, Pinto five draw controls and senior defender
Devyne Doran (South Kingstown, RI) four ground balls.
It appeared that the Warriors would settle the outcome early when they struck for the first three goals in the opening three minutes, but Gordon came roaring back behind three goals and an assist from Olivia McCarrick to surge into its only lead of the game, 4-3, needing only eight minutes. For the next 26 minutes, however, it was all Eastern.
With McCarrick being limited to only one goal and one assist the rest of the way, Eastern ran away for the rout. Schneider tied the match, 4-4, with 13:21 left in the first half, and and Pinto pushed the elad to 6-4 with consecutive strikes just over a minute apart, the second coming on a free-position shot.
Three Eastern players recorded their first goals of the season: senior
Amanda Will (Wantagh, NY) contributed two three minutes apart in the second half, senior
Nicole Fretz (Newington) with 18 seconds left in the first half that made it 9-4 at the break, and junior
Jenna Glynn (West Granby) eight minutes into the second half during a streak of seven straight Eastern goals.
Complementing Michelina's game-high five draw controls, senior defender
Taylor Pendergast (South Windsor) had three and senior midfielder
Caroline Regan (Niantic) two to help the Warriors to a slim 15-12 advantage in that department.
Senior goalie
Taylor Emmerson (Colchester) made three saves over 45 minutes for the win, departing in favor of sophomore
Jessica Purick (Riverhead, NY) with the Warriors in control of a 16-5 lead. Purick made her first save of the year in her first appearance.
McCarrick led Gordon with four goals and two assists and MC Aston won three draws. Melanie Dwyer made four saves over the first 58 minutes.
Eastern visits Wellesley College Friday at 4 p.m. in a non-conference game.
