HILTON HEAD, S.C. (March 12, 2026) – The Western New England women's lacrosse team came out with a 19-15 win in the second game of their spring break schedule, defeating the Eagles of Husson University on Thursday morning. Lina Eves led the Golden Bears with eight goals, while Carlie Francis continued to shine with four goals and two assists. 

Records:

• Western New England: 3-3
• Husson University: 3-2

How it Happened:

First Quarter:

• The Golden Bears and Eagles combined to score 12 goals in the opening frame, six by each team. Lina Eves opened the scoring just 29 seconds into the game, notching her 11^th goal of the season to give Western New England the opening 1-0 lead. Husson responded with the next two goals as Averi Baker and Kate Boehmcke registered goals, netting the pair just 26 seconds apart, giving Husson its first lead of the game just two minutes into the contest. Eves punched back with another goal on an assist from Ella Nish to even the score at two, but the Eagles maintained their lead, taking leads at both 3-2 and 4-3. 
• Neither team took more than a one-goal advantage over the other in the opening 15 minutes. Eves had Western New England's first four goals of the game, while the fifth tally of the morning came from Allison Cyr, who netted her fourth goal of the season on an assist from Ella Henry, giving WNE a 5-4 lead with 6:06 to play in the quarter. Husson replied with the next goal as Baker found the back of the net for the third time in the game to tie the score at five. Eves for the Golden Bears and Boehmcke for the Eagles had the final tallies in the quarter, as the game was even at six after one quarter.
• WNE took ten shots in the frame while Husson picked up seven. Emily Picolla came up with one save for the Golden Bears in the opening 15 minutes. 

Second Quarter:

• Western New England had the first two-goal lead in the game, starting right away in the opening 1:18 of the second frame when Lyndsey Bunnell netted her eighth of the season while Lina Eves continued to find twine for the Golden Bears, giving WNE an 8-6 lead. Husson found its way right back into the game, scoring the next three goals overall as Boehmcke, Baker, and Amelia Saunders produced three straight goals for the Eagles to give Husson a 9-8 lead with 8:07 to play in the quarter. 
• After nearly four minutes of action without a goal, the Golden Bears picked up a tally from Carlie Francis, who continues her excellent play on the turf, netting her 10^th goal of the season to tie the game at nine. After Husson responded with its 10^th of the game, Western New England scored two goals in the final 43 seconds of the second quarter to take an 11-10 lead at halftime. Ella Nish netted a free position goal for her sixth goal of the season while Francis ended the quarter with WNE's 11^th goal of the game, seeing the Blue and Gold take an 11-10 lead into the break.
• Western New England picked up another ten shots in the frame, eight on goal overall. 

Third Quarter:

• Neither team jumped out to a quick offensive start, as the first goal of the quarter did not come until the 7:34 mark of the frame when Lina Eves began the scoring while a player down for the Golden Bears, giving WNE a 12-10 lead. The Golden Bears began pulling away from Husson, scoring four straight goals to open the quarter and six in a row overall in the game. Gabby Sliwka netted her first of the season at the 6:32 mark, followed by a pair of strikes from Ella Henry, her 12^th and 13^th goals of the season, giving Western New England a 15-10 lead with 4:03 remaining. 
• Husson's Averi Baker picked up a goal less than a minute after WNE's goal from Henry, but it would be the only strike the Eagles would have in the third quarter, as Western New England's defense picked up three caused turnovers, one from Carlie Francis, another from Deana Baez, and one from Megan Mark to end the third quarter, as the WNE defense shut down the Husson offense in the third frame. 
• Picolla made two saves for the Golden Bears in the quarter, while the Golden Bears took a 15-11 lead with 15 minutes to play in the game. 

Fourth Quarter:

• Carlie Francis and Sydney Miles combined for the opening two goals in just three minutes to begin the fourth quarter as the Golden Bears looked to sweep their spring break trip in Hilton Head, leading Husson 17-11. The Eagles responded with the next two goals, getting back within four when Adella Mabee and Laela Marinez found the back of the net with 8:55 to play. 
• Francis, who registered four goals in the game, found her last with 6:59 remaining in the fourth, netting her 13^thgoal of the season, giving the Golden Bears an 18-13 lead. Western New England's final goal of the game came from Lina Eves, her eighth of the game overall and 18^th for the season at the 2:45 mark, seeing the Golden Bears come away with a 19-13 lead and pulling out a 19-15 win, following a pair of late tallies from the Eagles. 
• Both teams picked up eight shots in the fourth quarter; seven Eagles' shots were on goal, with Picolla coming away with three saves. 

Inside the Lines:

• WNE produced two straight games in Hilton Head of 19 goals and was led by Lina Eves in both games. Eves netted eight goals on Thursday morning and also picked up an assist for nine total points in the win. Eves took 11 shots on goal in the game, won four draw controls, and picked up two ground balls. 
• Carlie Francis collected four goals and two assists, good for six points on the day. Francis took seven shots and picked up one ground ball. 
• Lyndsey Bunnell collected a goal and four assists for Western New England, while Ella Henry picked up four points, two goals and two assists in the win. 
• All of Ella Nish, Allison Cyr, Gabby Sliwka, and Sydney Miles contributed on the scoresheet. 
• Leilah Neiman led Western New England's defense with three caused turnovers. Gabby Sliwka and Megan Mark picked up two each. 
• Emily Picolla finished the game with six saves between the pipes. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears return to New England and will take on Anna Maria College on Monday, March 16, at 5:00 PM at Caparso Field.