HENNIKER, N.H. - The Norwich University women's lacrosse team stormed back from a two-goal deficit in the fourth period to take down New England College, 12-8, en route to the Cadets' first win of the 2023 campaign at Don Melander Field on Friday evening.

Quinn Mustone (Medford, Mass.) and Michaila Furchak (Nyack, N.Y.) led the offensive firestorm, each logging hat tricks while Maddie Etherton (Johnstown, N.Y.) and Maggie Doyle (Melrose, Mass.) posted a pair of goals each.  Ellie Moriarty (Stowe, Vt.) and Valentina Drown (Acton, Maine) added a score apiece.

Both teams traded goals in the opening seven minutes, with Furchak tallying her first just over a minute into the contest before Mackenzie McDonald knotted things up.  Mustone and Nathalie Antigua followed minutes later, until Athena Merck (West Yarmouth, Mass.) found Etherton in the waning minutes of the quarter to give the Cadets a 3-2 edge.

Mustone and Moriarty found openings between the pipes to kick off the second quarter, extending Norwich's lead until the Pilgrims trimmed it back down to one at halftime.  Drown gave the Cadets some life at the 10:00 mark of the third, but NEC halted the momentum courtesy of four-straight goals over the ensuing 13 minutes to capture an 8-6 lead.

The Cadets would not go quietly, however, as unassisted goals from Doyle and Mustone tied the game at 8-all, and a Drown helper to Furchak handed Norwich the lead back.  Three-straight in the final six minutes from Doyle, Furchak, and Etherton, with the last two coming off passes from Moriarty, iced the game for Norwich.

Norwich set the tone offensively, especially in the fourth quarter, owning a 41-28 edge in shots, including a 14-4 mark in the closing 15 minutes.

Maeve Noble-Lowe (Freedom, Maine) earned the win, collecting seven saves in the crease.

The Cadets will now look ahead to their Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opener, as they will host the reigning GNAC champions in Saint Joseph's College of Maine on Saturday, Mar. 11.  Game time on Sabine Field is slated for 3:00 p.m.