Vikings Drop Season Opener

DUDLEY, Mass. – Salem State women's lacrosse started their 2024 season on the road this afternoon as they traveled to Dudley, Massachusetts to take on the Bison of Nichols College. Six goals from Hadley Houghton (Madison, Conn.) would spearhead the Bison to the 11-5 victory over the Vikings, dropping Salem to 0-1 on the young season.

Kenzie Currey (Bel Air, Md.) and Jenna Wells (Revere, Mass.) led the Vikings with two goals while Laura Young (Leominster, Mass.) added a goal and a helper in the effort. Defensively, Nora Bradley (Haddon Township, N.J.) turned away 13 shots for the Vikings.  

For the Bison, Houghton added three assists to go along with her six goals while teammates Emma Patton (Avon Lake, Ohio) and McKenzie Muir (Bedford, N.H.) each netted two goals in the victory.

Houghton notched her first two goals in the opening four minutes before Young found Wells for the Vikings' first goal of the season making it a 2-1 game with 11:11 remaining in the opening stanza. The Bison would convert on a free position shot before Currey notched her first goal as a Viking, making it a one-goal game (3-2). Houghton would add one more goal before the quarter ended, giving her a hat trick and the Bison the 4-2 edge at the end of the first.

Houghton and Wells would each add another goal to their tally before a defensive stalemate would ensue over the last ten minutes of the half, with both goalies turning away three shots, sending the game into the break with the Bison ahead 5-3.

The Bison exploded for four goals in the opening five minutes before Young found the back of the net for the Vikings, making it a 9-4 game at the 5:26 mark. Three minutes later Currey would score her second goal of the game before the Bison closed the third with a goal of their own to take the 10-5 lead heading into the final 15 minutes of action.

Houghton recorded her sixth goal of the game at the 11:42 mark which would also be the final goal of the game as the Bison went on to take the commanding 11-5 victory.

The Vikings are back in action this Tuesday, March 5^th when they welcome the Lasers of Lasell University for their first home game of the season. Game time is scheduled for 7p.m..