Box Score
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. --  The Eastern Connecticut State University women's lacrosse team spotted Salve Regina University two man-up goals less than a minute apart midway through the first quarter before outscoring the Seahawks by ten goals over the remainder of the half in a 13-10 non-conference win Saturday afternoon at Gaudet Field.

Whistled for two yellow cards two minutes apart that carry a five-minute penalty each, Eastern (2-0) fell behind early but quickly recovered to score the final five goals of the first quarter and first two of the second – three of the seven goals scored by senior midfielder Abby Parisi (Fairfield) – to build an 11-3 halftime lead and hold on in a second half which produced only two goals.

Salve (0-3) got as close a three after Holly Sullivan scored twice to open the fourth quarter, but graduate midfielder Kaylee Drobish (Wallingford) scored the team's only two goals of the half  – the first coming off the 100^th ground ball of her career --  that restored a five-goal lead five minutes into the fourth quarter, and the Warriors survived a pair of Salve goals inside the final three minutes that accounted for the final three-goal margin. The Warriors did not allow another shot, maintaining control the rest of the way after winning the ensuing draw after the Seahawks made it 13-10.

In her first career start, first-year goalie Maizie Rukat (Manchester, VT) was credited with her second win in as many appearances. Rukat departed with an 11-6 lead with ten minutes left in the third quarter, making one save. Senior Emma Alford (West Hartford) closed it out, making two saves and allowing Salve's final four goals over the last 25 minutes.

In the game, Eastern held the Seahawks to just one goal over a span of 24 minutes, allowing the Warriors to outscore the hosts 11-1 after Salve's opening two extra-man goals.
Eight players contributed to the scoring for Eastern, with Drobish and Parisi each scoring three times (Parisi reaching 50 in a career  with her third of the game early in the second quarter) and Drobish adding an assist. Senior midfielder Emma Oliano (Wallingford) won four of the team's 15 draws, Parisi three, including the 99^th of her career.

 In last year's 8-7 overtime home win over Salve, it was Drobish's overtime draw which set up the winning goal with 1:34 gone in sudden death. The Warriors have now won four of the last six meetings with Salve.

Eastern visits the University of Saint Joseph (1-1) Tuesday at 5 p.m. in a non-conference match. It will be the first meeting ever between the Eastern and Saint Joseph, which is coming off a 12-5 season in 2024 and a quarterfinal appearance in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) tournament.