NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University women's lacrosse team jump started the Ian Thomas coaching era with a win on Saturday, downing New England College 10-9 after a last-minute goal by Michaila Furchak (Nyack, N.Y.).

The Cadets' Allison Sturgeon (Monticello, Ind.) recorded a hat-trick in the season opener, while dishing out four assists for a total of seven points. Valentina Drown (Acton, Maine) and Furchak both added three points of a pair of goals and an assist. Quinn Mustone (Medford, Mass.), Jasmin Contreras (Glendale, Calif.), and Maddie Etherton (Johns\town, N.Y.) each added a goal in the win.

Katie Bishop-Manning (New York, N.Y.) made nine saves in the contest while, Sturgeon earned eight draw controls while Mustone picked up nine ground balls, and Julia Proto (Orange, Conn.), Ava Durand (Mechanicsburg, Pa.), and Addison Reil (East Barre, Vt.) each caused a pair of turnovers.

After a goal by the Pilgrims opened things up 1:10 into the first quarter, Mustone found a cutting Sturgeon in front of the net, and Sturgeon buried the shot for the Cadets first goal of the season. Etherton then added another goal for the Cadets with 8:15 remaining on the clock and Sturgeon added a third straight goal for the Cadets 1:07 later taking a 3-1 advantage.

In the second quarter, New England College again was able to break the Norwich run scoring a goal 23 seconds into the quarter. But Furchak and Sturgeon combined for a pair of goals to take a 5-2 lead.

The Pilgrims scored four straight-goals beginning in the second quarter into the third to take a 6-5 lead with 3:36 remaining in the third frame. The Cadets added a goal from Drown who knotted things up at 6-6.

New England College scored two straight goals to open up the fourth quarter, but Drown scored on the extra player opportunity, and Contreras followed up with a goal of her own to tie the game with 8:54 remaining.

The Pilgrims took an 9-8 lead but Sturgeon found Mustone to even the score with just under four minutes remaining in the final frame. In the final minute of play the Cadets had possession and Sturgeon again found an open player in Furchak who converted on the opportunity with 51 seconds remaining to seal the victory for Norwich.

Norwich (1-0, 0-0 GNAC) will travel to Plattsburgh State for a 4 pm matchup with the Cardinals on Tuesday, Mar. 8.  The Cadets will then open their Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) slate on Saturday, Mar. 12 when they visit the Monks of Saint Joseph's College in Standish, Maine.