Rivier's offense was on target on Saturday in a 15-2 win. (Courtesy photo by Nick Theodores/Rivier Athletics)

NASHUA – The Rivier women’s lacrosse team defeated Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opponent Elms, 15-2, Saturday evening at Joanne Merrill Field.

With the win, the Raiders improved to 5-5 (3-3 GNAC), while the Blazers fell to 0-9 (0-6 GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

It took just 39 seconds for the first goal to be scored, as junior Sofia Cebrero found the back of the net to give Rivier an early 1-0 lead. Elms tied the game with a free-position goal at 12:46, but the Raiders responded with five unanswered goals to close the opening quarter. Sophomore Ashlynn Ledoux reclaimed the lead with a free-position goal, followed by an unassisted tally from first-year Hayleigh Young. Cebrero added her second goal on a woman-up opportunity at 7:12, completed her hat trick nearly three minutes later with another free-position conversion, and Ledoux capped the quarter with a woman-up goal at 3:34 to give Rivier a 6-1 advantage.

First-years Olivia Wheeler and Emma Finch accounted for the lone goals of the second quarter. Wheeler netted a woman-up free-position goal at 14:04, followed just 28 seconds later by Finch’s woman-up tally at 13:36.

Sophomore Keegan McGaheran opened the second half with a woman-up goal at 10:10, extending Rivier’s lead to 9-1. Wheeler recorded her second woman-advantage goal of the contest to push the margin to nine. The Blazers added their second goal of the game before Ledoux secured her hat trick at 5:58 off an assist from Cebrero. Sophomore Brooke Carter closed out the third-quarter scoring with her first goal of the contest.

Three Raiders found the back of the net in route to their 15-2 win over Elms. Carter and Finch recorded woman-up goals at 10:10 and 6:24, respectively. Young sealed the game with 1:25 remaining with an unassisted goal.

BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN

Cebrero paced the offense with five points, followed by Ledoux with four.

First-year Arrianna Imbriano made two saves in the outing…First-year Chloe Waldron recorded a team-high six ground balls, followed by Young with five.

Young added a team-high eight draw controls…In addition to her two goals, Wheeler caused three turnovers.

UP NEXT

The Raiders return to action Tuesday with a conference matchup at Norwich. The opening draw is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Sabine Field at Haynes Family Stadium.

MEN’S LACROSSE

RIVIER 10, LASELL 5

In the rematch of last season’s Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Final, the Rivier men’s lacrosse team defeated Lasell at Grellier Field.

With the result, the Raiders improved to 8-0 (4-0 GNAC), while the Lasers moved to 5-5 (4-2 GNAC)

Sophomore James DelPrete opened the scoring, finishing a feed from first-year Henri Brochu at the 10:16 mark of the first quarter to give the Raiders a 1-0 lead. Sophomore Jake Lydon made four saves in the opening frame to keep the Lasers off the board.

Just 1:49 into the second quarter, sophomore Aiden Conley capitalized on another Brochu assist to extend Rivier’s lead to 2-0. DelPrete struck again at the 6:12 mark of the second, pushing the Raiders ahead 3-0 heading into halftime.

Lydon sprinted the length of the field and netted the first goal of his career just 51 seconds into the third quarter, extending the lead to 4-0. Lasell responded with back-to-back goals to cut the deficit in half, 4-2. Rivier responded with Andrew Nee netting a man-up goal with 8:02 to play in the frame. Nee recorded his second nearly five minutes later to take a four-goal lead once again.

The Lasers began the fourth quarter scoring two goals in the first five minutes of action. DelPrete completed his hattrick, giving the Raiders a 7-4 lead. First-year Conor Walsh scored back-to-back goals 49 seconds apart before Lasell cut the deficit to four with a minute remaining. First-year Payton Kender sealed the 10-5 victory with an unassisted tally with 52 seconds on the clock.

DelPrete led the team with three points followed by Nee, Brochu, Walsh, and Conley with two points apiece…Lydon made 15 saves in the crease for the Raiders…Defensively, first-year Logan Layton caused two turnovers and registered three ground balls, both team-highs.

The Raiders return to action on Monday against Mitchell in a GNAC matchup, with the first whistle set for 3:30 p.m.

SOFTBALL

RAIDERS SWEEP NORWICH

The Rivier softball team delivered an impressive all-around performance on Saturday afternoon at Raider Diamond, sweeping Norwich in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader with a 9-0 victory in the opener followed by a 10-3 win in game two.

With the sweep, the Raiders improved to 5-9 on the season, while the Cadets dropped to 5-7.

Rivier 9, Norwich 0 (5 inn.)

Rivier wasted no time, exploding for four runs in the bottom of the first inning to take early control. An RBI groundout from senior Kylee Caetano, combined with an error, plated the first two runs before senior Hayley Rapaglia launched a solo home run to extend the lead.

Junior Liv Harnish followed with an RBI single to cap the four-run frame.

The Raiders added two more runs in the third inning behind RBI singles from junior Sophia Quinlan and sophomore Natalie Benac.

Rivier put the game out of reach in the fourth, scoring three runs, including a two-RBI effort from sophomore Aaralyn Lopez.

In the circle, junior Hailey Berube was dominant, tossing a complete-game shutout while allowing just four hits and striking out five.

senior Avry Nelson led the offense with a perfect 3-for-3 performance, including a double and two runs scored, while Rapaglia finished 2-for-3 with a home run and two runs scored.

Quinlan added two hits and an RBI, while Caetano drove in two runs.

Rivier totaled 12 hits in the win and did not commit an error defensively.

Rivier 10, Norwich 3

Rivier struck first in the opening inning on an RBI single from Rapaglia to take a 1-0 lead, notching her 100th career hit. Norwich responded with three runs in the second, but the Raiders responded quickly.

Rivier erupted for six runs in the third inning, highlighted by a two-RBI triple from Nelson, an RBI double from Harnish, and a run-scoring hit from Quinlan.

Junior Rebecca McKelvey added an RBI single collecting her first collegiate hit, while Caetano later drew a bases-loaded walk to cap the rally.

The Raiders tacked on one run in the fourth and two more in the fifth to extend their lead to 10-3.

After entering in relief, Berube shut the door, tossing five scoreless innings with five strikeouts to secure the win.

Nelson powered the offense with four RBIs, finishing 2-for-4 with a triple and double. Caetano scored three runs and added two hits and an RBI.

Couto recorded two hits and two runs scored, while Harnish contributed two hits and two RBI while Quinlan added two hits and an RBI as part of Rivier’s 14-hit attack. Also, the Raiders drew seven walks and capitalized on timely hitting throughout the game.

The Raiders head to Weston, Massachusetts for a GNAC matchup against Regis(Mass.) today for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 11 a.m.