Salem Opens Conference Play Topping Mass. Maritime, 15-5

THE BASICS

Salem State, 15 vs. Mass. Maritime, 5

Records: 

Mass. Maritime Bucaneers (0-7, 0-1 MASCAC)

Salem State Vikings (6-0, 1-0 MASCAC)

Location: Salem, Mass. - Alumni Field

Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026

THE LEAD: The Salem State women's lacrosse team kicked off Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) play with a 15-5 win over Mass. Maritime Saturday afternoon. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The visitors opened up the scoring first by scoring the opening three goals of the contest. Sarah Naar led the early offensive attack for the Bucs by netting two of the three goals. However, with less than five minutes (04:47) left in the quarter, Jordan Turcotte (Danvers, Mass.) got the squad on the board after a nice setup from Laura Young (Leominster, Mass.). Nearly a minute later (03:47), Young set up another score for the Vikes courtesy of Kaylee Rich (Danvers, Mass.). 
• Despite going into the second down one (3-2), the Salem offense exploded for six unanswered goals in the second, highlighted by three scores from Turcotte. Thanks to strong defense and goal tending by Nora Bradley (Haddon Township, N.J.), the squad did not allow a Mass. Maritime scored the entire period and took an 8-3 lead going into the half.
• Aislinn Bennett (Milford, Mass.) continued the Blue and Orange's momentum early into the third (12:32) and put the squad up 9-3 after rifling her shot past the Bucs goalie. However, both sides continued to play each other hard throughout the third, and Maggie O'Malley would pull Mass. Maritime within five (9-4) after scoring with 02:30 left in the frame. 
• Even with an early Sarah Naar goal in the fourth (14:14) for the Bucs, Salem would not be phased as the squad closed out the final quarter scoring six-straight goals for the eventual 15-5 win. Turcotte and Young paced the Vikings offense in the quarter by scoring two goals apiece. 

 INSIDE THE NUMBERS: 

• Turcotte tied her season-best with a game-high six goals for Salem. Young and Rich weren't far behind, both scoring three goals on the day.
• Young and Bennett dished out a team-high two assists Saturday.
• Bradley got the win for Salem after making eight saves in 60:00 of action.
• Narr led the Mass. Maritime offense with three goals. 
• Christine Rech ended up taking the loss for the Bucs after making 10 stops in 60:00 of action. 
• Salem's 6-0 start to the year is the best start in program history after six games.
• The Vikings' six-game win streak is the longest in program history.
• The Blue and Orange won their first MASCAC opener since 2023.

UP NEXT:

Salem kicks off a three-game road trip with a contest at UMaine Farmington on Wednesday, April 1, starting at 4:00 p.m.