BIDDEFORD, Maine – Castleton University saw its offense get on track in the second half with seven goals after halftime, but the University of New England matched the Spartans goal-for-goal to earn a 13-9 victory Sunday afternoon in a non-conference women's lacrosse match at the Big Blue Turf.

University of New England (2-0) controlled the opening faceoff and immediately jumped on the board, as Brooke Kelleher scored 21 seconds into the contest. After a Castleton turnover, the Nor'easters took advantage, as Nicole Carvalho set up Korinne Bohunsky for a goal to give UNE a 2-0 lead two minutes into the game.

Castleton struck back four-and-a-half minutes later, as Hannah Braman followed up one shot that was turned away with another that found the back of the net. Midway through the first half, UNE extended its lead to three, as Bohunsky scored her second goal of the match, and then Carly Sheehan earned a man-up goal with 11:34 remaining in the first half.

The Spartans started putting some offense together, with the payoff coming on a goal by Tiffany Danyow off an assist from Grace Johnson with 7:28 to go before halftime. UNE struck back, as Kelleher earned her second goal of the game off an assist from Jocelyn Davee, and then Carvalho collected her second assist of the game on a goal by Anna Stowell with six seconds left in the half to give the Nor'easters a 6-2 halftime lead.

Carvalho scored her first goal of the afternoon just over a minute into the second half to give UNE a five-point lead, but the Spartans scored three of the next four goals thanks to tallies by Chantel Wilkin, Johnson, and Erin Shuttle to close to within three at 8-5 with 22:14 left in the second half. The two teams basically exchanged goals the rest of the way as Castleton could not get any closer than three goals down to the Nor'easters.

Braman led the Spartans with a hat trick, while Johnson and Ashley Pelkey earned a goal and an assist apiece. Making the first start of her collegiate career, sophomore goalie Samantha Hebb finished with 12 saves for Castleton.

Carvalho led the Nor'easters with two goals and three assists, while Davee and Kelleher earned two goals and two assists each. Bohunsky and Stowell also scored twice during the game, and goalie Maritza Nary kept UNE on top throughout the game with seven saves.

Castleton (0-1) heads to Springfield, Mass., for a contest against Western New England Tuesday, March 7, starting at 4 p.m. The Spartans will then have a nine-day break from competition before opening a three-game homestand against Worcester State March 16.