Salem Steals the 10-9 Victory on the Road

WENHAM, Mass. – Salem State women's lacrosse found themselves back on the road this afternoon as they traveled down the road to Gordon College to take on the Fighting Scots in a non-conference bout. After 60 minutes of back-and-forth action the Vikings snuck away with the 10-9 victory over the Scots to notch their third win in a row.

Taylor Sujko (Revere, Mass.) and Mackenzie Shmink (Danvers, Mass.) each netted three goals with Sujko adding three helpers for the Vikings. Jenna Wells (Revere, Mass.) rounded out the scoring with two goals while Aislinn Bennett (Milford, Mass.) and Madison White (Salem, Mass.) each chipped in one goal in the win. Defensively, Carson Reidy (Burlington, Mass.) made 21 saves in the contest.

For the Scots, Caroline Piorkowski (Millis, Mass.) led the way with four points from one goal and four assists while Kaitlin Mini (Malden, Mass.) netted three goals in the effort.

How it Happened:

• After exchanging shots, the Vikings were able to land the first goal of the game at the 7:32 mark when Bennett was able to sneak one past the Gordon keeper. Less than one minute later Salem was able to build on their lead when Breanna Stead (Salem, Mass.) found Sujko to give their team the 2-0 tilt. With under three minutes to play in the first period, the Scots were able to even the score after back-to-back goals sent the game into the second period tied at two.
• Reidy turned away two Gordon shots before the Scots took their first lead of the game when Hailey Beling found the back of the net, but the lead would be short lived as Schmink would convert a Sujko pass to bring the game to 3-3 with 9:15 to play in the half.
• The Scots would take a two-goal advantage with under five minutes to play before the Vikings went on to score three unanswered goals to take the slight 6-5 advantage heading into the break.
• The Scots scored three unanswered goals to open the half to reclaim the lead and see a two-goal cushion (8-6) with 7:24 to play in the period. The Scots tried to build on their lead, but Reidy turned away five shots to keep the home team at bay before White scored in the closing minute to make it a one-goal game (8-7) heading into the final fifteen minutes.
• Schmink put her team back in the driver's seat after back-to-back goals in the opening three minutes brought the score to 9-8 in favor of the Vikings.
• With nine minutes to play in the game the Scots were able to tie the game at nine apiece, but the stalemate would last less than two minutes as Bennett found Wells for what would be the game winning goal as Reidy turned away the next three shots to secure the 10-9 victory on the road.