WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The Hawks women's lacrosse team had an impressive showing this snowy senior night Saturday defeating the University of New England Nor'Easters with a final score of 15-10.

Rapid Recap:

• The Hawks opened up the scoring in this match-up as sophomore Madison Olmstead (Wolcott, Conn.) drills a shot into the back of the net in the first two minutes. The two teams battled in the middle field as we moved through the first trading turnover for turnover. The Nor'Easters' Barrie Guertin put away an equalizer with 7:39 remaining. Not long after sophomore Lauren Samela (Cheshire, Conn.) drilled a shot into the top right corner capitalizing off of a free position attempt, taking back the lead 2-1. Both teams maintained pressure throughout the field forcing turnovers and pushing shots wide. Morgan White for the Nor'Easters kept them in this quarter, putting up the second equalizer in just this quarter, 2-2. Senior Meghan Smith (Orange, Conn.) ripped a quick shot within 30 seconds to nab back the lead as she was assisted by junior Courtney Ingham (Bedford, N.H.) to close out the first up one, 3-2.
• Ingham building on her momentum in the first she knocks in a goal of her own to kick-off this second quarter as she picks up the rebound of her first shot in the opening 90 seconds. The Nor'Easters seemed to have found their rhythm offensively, sequencing two back to back goals within a 31 second span, one claimed by Meagan Donovan and the other by Morgan White who capitalized on a man-up opportunity. Those goals bring the two teams back to even 4-4. Just as the Nor'Easters got comfortable, Smith ripped a goal right by the goalie to nab her second goal taking back the lead for Hawks at 11:37. Teams held strong defensively protecting the goal, Nor'Easters goalie Jenna Trafford made key saves for the team to keep the Hawks at bay. Smith was not done yet though as sophomore Laurel McIntosh lobbed up a swift pass to find her stick and she slammed it right by the keeper to extend their lead 6-4. Samela was next for the Hawks, answering within the next 55 seconds, grabbing a pass from Ingham and bringing it home. The Nor'Easters ended the half by Vail Carruthers slamming a shot by the Hawks' goalie keeping them in this battle as we moved into the second quarter, 7-5.
• Smith continued to be lights out in the fan nabbing another goal for the Hawks after she won the draw control to start off this third quarter. Next to score were the Nor'Easters who converted on a free-position shot off the netting of Chloe Ryan to bring the Hawks lead down to just two, 8-6 with 12:15 remaining. Common theme for this game is the Hawks following a Nor'Easters goal with a quick goal of their own. Olmstead slammed a quick goal right by the goalie in less than 60 seconds. Morgan White for the Nor'Easters next capitalized on a man-up opportunity as senior Madison Caragelo was penalized with a yellow card. Smith, McIntosh, and Ingham closed out this third quarter with an impressive three back-to-back goals to set the tone heading into the fourth quarter leading 12-7.
• Smith gets the ball rolling yet again to open the scoring for the Hawks, her sixth of the game in the opening 34 seconds of the final quarter. Sophomore Mandi Rivard (Vernon. Conn.) held strong in the net this afternoon blocking key shots from the Nor'Easters and free position shots in the first minutes of this quarter. Morgan White continued to attempt to shrink the differential with a goal assisted by Molly Henderson to bring it to a five point chase, 13-8. Olmstead stayed fired up on offense capitalizing on another free position attempt. Morgan White for New England kept trailing the Hawks goals with a goal of her own banging one into the back net with 10:12 on the clock. Rivard had three impressive saves in a row in the next two minutes to hold the lead at five. Samela then picked up a clean pass by Ingham to drill the ball right by the Nor'Easters, continuing the lead to 15-9 with less than seven to go. In the final minute Nor'Easters' Sydney Balotin continued to be aggressive and closed out this game sneaking a ball by Hartford's defense to end it 15-10.

Post Game Press: 
"It was really important for us to get this win to get a higher seed in the play-offs," said senior Madison Carangelo (Vernon, Conn.). "With the conditions we had to think smart and use our passing skills, communicate better, and work as a team to get this win."

"This win felt great, said senior Meghan Smith (Orange, Conn.), "especially to have a home game win on senior night and all of our teammates truly came together to get this win. We knew they were going be great competition today, but we just used our team on both sides of the field. Our defense was working really well together, and offensively we found the openings and it was awesome to come out with the win."

• Smith became the first Hawk in program history to hit 100 career goals in the win. Meghan notched six goals on her senior day along with one assist, picked up six ground balls and caused two turnovers.
• Samela had three goals in this match-up tallying three points along with nabbing one ground ball and one caused turnover. Olmstead continued to dominate offensively adding three goals to her stats sheet, with one ground ball picked up and one caused turnover.
• Frashure also hit a milestone being the first Hawk to hit 50 career caused turnovers. She added three ground balls and three caused turnovers.
• Rivard had five saves this afternoon making that 99 on the 2025 season so far. 

Up Next:
The Hawks will continue Conference of New England (CNE) play on Tuesday April 15th at 7:00 p.m. to face off against Wentworth Institute of Technology.