© Justin Reidy
© Justin Reidy

Sullivan Ascendant in MASCAC-Opening Defeat

SALEM, Mass. – Salem State came out shooting in the first half and wore down the Massachusetts Maritime Academy women's lacrosse team in the second to win both club's MASCAC opener, 18-7. Casey Sullivan continued her meteoric rise with three goals, while MASCAC Rookie of the Week Anna Deely had two markers and 11 groundballs.

Salem State built a 7-3 halftime lead as Chelsea Smith and Bridgett Lawless netted back-to-back goals for the Vikings in the opening minutes. Sullivan answered for Mass Maritime, but McLaughlin and Giuliano pushed the lead up to three scores with 14:25 remaining in the first. Stephanie Hunt tallied two goals and Deely one for Mass Maritime in the first half. 

Kirsten Bradley and Paige Giuliano opened the scoring for the Vikings in the second as Salem began to pull away. Sullivan cut the deficit to 9-6 with successive scores, but Chelsea Smith's hat-trick increased the lead to 10-6 with 18:12 left. Deely kept Maritime close with her second score of the game, but the Vikings ten stroked eight consecutive goals, highlighted by three from Rose Sullivan and two from Courtney Smith in the final 14:05 to coast to an 18-7 victory.  

Two days after hammering home seven goals, Maritime's Sullivan (Sagamore Beach, Mass.) added another three, putting all seven of her shots on target and avoiding any turnovers. The three net-finders improved her total to 24 on the season, first on the team. Deely (Marstons Mills, Mass.) and Hunt (Brookfield, Conn.) had a brace of markers, but the latter had an uncharacteristic seven turnovers. Deely now has 29 points including 22 goals, while Hunt leads the team in points (43) and assists (20).

Salem State shot 41 times, 24 in the second half, putting 34 on target. Meanwhile, the Bucs only took 19 shots in the game, though only one was off target. Gianna DeNisco (1-6) earned the win for the Vikings, stopping 11 shots. Mikayla Correia (Dartmouth, Mass.) made 16 saves for Mass Maritime, but despite her efforts dropped to 4-4.

The Vikings (1-6) pick up their first win of the season and move to 1-0 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC). The Buccaneers slide to 4-4 and 0-1 in the league and will have a week to prepare for their next conference bout at Worcester State (4-4, 0-1).

In the meantime, bookmark www.mmabucs.com and get the inside scoop on Facebook and Twitter @mmabuccaneers.

Gabriel Fidler, Sports Information Associate