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NEW BRITAIN, Conn. - La Salle used a four-goal run late in the second half to break open the game en route to a 14-8 win at Central Connecticut State on Saturday afternoon.
Erin McCabe drained five goals and added one assist to lead the Explorers to their third straight win to open the 2014 season, marking the first time in program history that the squad started 3-0.
Claire Andrews added a four-point day on three goals and one assist, and
Katelyn Fay also drained three goals.
Alanna Diffendal chipped in two goals and an assist, and
Anna Kelly rounded out the scoring with one goal and one assist.
Claire Healy led the Blue Devils (0-1) with three goals.
"In a game where we were missing key players and not playing our best, I'm happy that the team found a way to win," Head Coach
Candace Taglianetti Bossell said. "We knew with the absence of [Caitlyn] Brostrand and [Katie] Marasco that we would need some players to step up and
Erin McCabe rose to the occasion. We really relied on a total team effort and we were pleased with the depth we showed and the sparks from [Alanna] Diffendal and [Anna] Kelly off the bench.
Brostrand and Marasco were sidelined due to injuries sustained against Temple on Wednesday.
Healy scored the game's first goal just under six minutes into play to give CCSU an early 1-0 advantage. However, the Explorers responded by rattling off four straight. Andrews scored her first to spark the rally at 21:29 and Diffendal added back-to-back goals at 18:58 at 13:43. Fay scored at 12:55 to give the Explorers a 4-1 advantage.
CCSU got one back thirty seconds later when Amanda Toke scored on a pass from Meaghan McCurry. The Blue Devils edged within 4-3 when McCurry drained a pass from Healy.
Andrews and Healy traded goals to put the score at 5-4 with 8:33 until halftime, but the Explorers then got two more goals from McCabe and Fay to end the half with a 7-4 lead.
The Blue Devils scored just over a minute into the second half when Brigit Hogan found Elyse Malecki for the goal.
Fay responded a minute later, scoring a pass from McCabe. Kelly then converted a pass from Diffendal at the 25:55 mark and McCabe scored the Explorers' third straight with 17:51 left to put the Blue & Gold up 10-5.
CCSU got two back to draw within 10-7 with 6:20 to go, but four straight Explorer goals after that iced the game. Andrews scored her third with 5:57 to go, and McCabe rattled off three straight of her own to put the Explorers up 14-7. McCurry added a final goal for the Blue Devils with just over two minutes remaining.
The Explorers edged the Blue Devils in shots attempted, 25-23. They dominated on ground balls, 22-12, while CCSU dominated draw controls, 16-8.
Gabby Antonelli picked up her third win in goal, making eight saves. Morgan Tullar took the loss in goal for CCSU, making 10 saves.
