Women’s Lacrosse Defeats New Hampshire, 13-12, in Season Opener

Saturday, February 18

Hanover, N.H.

1:00 PM

Dartmouth College

1-0

New Hampshire

0-2

UNH

Dartmouth

Photo by: John and Matt Risley

Women’s Lacrosse Defeats New Hampshire, 13-12, in Season Opener

2/18/2023 4:37:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

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Samantha Bennett and Katina Christensen both finished with hat-tricks for the Big Green

By: Nick Romei

HANOVER, N.H. – The Dartmouth women's lacrosse team opened the 2023 season with a 13-12 victory over New Hampshire on Saturday afternoon at Scully-Fahey Field. Dartmouth is 1-0 on the season while UNH is 0-2. The Big Green scored three goals in the final six minutes to go ahead and earn the win.

Samantha Bennett led the way for the Big Green, finishing with three goals and one assist. Katina Christensen also finished with a hat-trick. Boo Dewitt scored twice and assisted another two while Catherine Erb finished with two goals. Gisele Todd made 10 saves to claim the win. Maja Desmond had three draw controls and two caused turnovers.

Katie Taranto scored six goals for the Wildcats while Allie Connerty finished with one goal and four assists.

The Big Green scored its first goal of the day just over three minutes into the game. Jev Ward fired it into the back of the net with Bennett providing the assist to earn her first collegiate point. Dartmouth pushed the lead to 3-0 late in the first when Dewitt and Bennett both scored their first collegiate goals.

UNH stormed back and took the lead after scoring four unanswered goals, two in the final 1:20 of the first quarter and then another two in the first five minutes of the second.

The contest turned into a game of runs as the Big Green would score the next two to reclaim the lead, 5-4. Sophia Franco scored her first career goal to tie the game with Erb scoring just 1:16 later to give Dartmouth the lead.

The Wildcats once again tied the game with just over three minutes to go in the half, this time with Rose Pavuk taking advantage of an extra player opportunity after the Big Green received a yellow card.

With the game tied 5-5 at halftime, both teams traded blows in the third quarter as they each scored four times. UNH started things off with Taranto scoring her second of the afternoon to put the Wildcats ahead, 6-5.

The Big Green responded with the next three goals as Desmond, Bennett, and Christensen all found the back of the net. UNH scored three of the next four goals in the third to make it 9-9 going into the final quarter.

After UNH scored two of the first three goals of the fourth to take an 11-10 lead, Dartmouth scored the next three, two from Christensen and one from Erb, to take a 13-11 lead with just over three minutes remaining in the game. UNH cut into the deficit as Taranto scored with 59 seconds to make it a one goal game. The Big Green possessed the ball for the remainder of the game to pick up the season-opening win.

Dartmouth hits the road next Saturday for its first away game of the season. The Big Green travel down to Massachusetts for a matchup with the #23 UMass Minutewomen. Opening draw is scheduled for 12 p.m. and the game will be available to stream on ESPN+.

Notes: Dartmouth has now won 10 straight games against UNH.