NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Maritime women's lacrosse team got its 2015 season underway on Saturday afternoon as the Privateers faced a road task against the Coast Guard Bears on Nitchman Field. The final horn sounded with the Bears sealing the win by a score of 12-7.
 
Leading the way for Maritime offensively were junior Leanne Lavelle (New Windsor, N.Y./Washingtonville), and sophomore Jane Quinn (Oakdale, N.Y./Connetquot) as the pair combined for all seven of the Privateer goals. The duo also led the team defensively as they combined for seven of the team's 10 caused turnovers and also combined for 15 ground balls.
 
On the defensive line, junior Kristen Hoar (Buffalo, N.Y./Kenmore East) had five ground balls, while rookie Christina Finnen (Hicksville, N.Y./Holy Trinity) stopped 10 shots in her collegiate debut.
 
Coast Guard struck early with a pair of goals less than three minutes into the game with the second coming on a free position attempt by the Bears. Coast Guard then turned the ball over with 18:30 left in the period, with Lavelle scooping up the ground ball to give possession back to Maritime.
 
Quinn was then awarded a free position shot that was stopped, but got her own rebound and picked up the ground ball and shot it home as the Privateers got on the board for the team's first goal of the season. Coast Guard scored next to regain its two-goal advantage.
 
With time winding down in the period, the Privateers were awarded yet another free position shot to be taken once again by Quinn. She made the most of her opportunity as she picked up her second goal of the contest to send the teams into the halftime break with Coast Guard ahead by a 3-2 score.
 
The scoring picked up quickly in the second half as the Bears scored just 65 seconds into the half, Lavelle then answered right back with her first goal of the year to pull Maritime back within one at 4-3 with 28:31 left in regulation. Coast Guard then added the next four goals to take an 8-3 lead about halfway through the second stanza.
 
Lavelle got the team going once again as she picked up her second goal of the contest and 60th of her career. The Bears netted two more unanswered tallies and took a 10-4 lead.
 
Quinn scored the next two goals of the game with the first coming on a free position attempt, and the second coming off a draw control victory by freshman Shannon Brady (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point), as Maritime was back within four at 10-6 with 2:24 to go. The Privateers yielded two more Coast Guard strikes in the final 90 seconds, with Lavelle adding her third of the game with just one second to go as the Bears held off the Privateers for the 12-7 win.
 
Quinn led the team with four draw controls, with Brady and Lavelle with two each. Sophomore Kelsey Ireland (Mount Olive, N.J./Mount Olive) also added a draw control.
 
In addition to Quinn, Lavelle and Hoar, the Privateers also got two ground balls from Brady and Finnen as well as sophomore Alyssa Esposito (Farmingdale, N.Y./St. John the Baptist). Junior Elizabeth Higley (Palm City, Fla./Martin County) and sophomore Hannah Mutum (Franklin Square, N.Y./Carey) also chipped in with two shots each.
 
Maritime (0-1, 0-0 Skyline) will look ahead to Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. when the team plays host to Stockton on Reinhart Field.
 
Coast Guard (1-1, 0-0 NEWMAC) will also play Stockton next on Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. in Galloway, N.J.