FRANKLIN, Mass. – March 9, 2024 – The Dean College women's lacrosse team was edged by Norwich, 15-9, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opener for both teams.

Dean (1-2, 0-1 GNAC South) wraps up a 4-game homestand on Wednesday with a 4 p.m. contest against Curry. Norwich (1-0, 1-0 GNAC North) returns home to host Emerson on Monday at 3 p.m.

Junior Nina Medeiros (Fairhaven, Mass.) led the Bulldogs with five points on four goals and an assist. She also tallied five draw controls, four ground balls and three caused turnovers. Junior Haley Gaunt (Johnston, R.I.) recorded three goals and an assist. Junior Natalie Peterson (Hudson, Mass.) contributed two goals, two assists, three ground balls and two draw controls.

The Cadets received four goals from freshman Tori Jarvis (South Windsor, Conn.). Sophomore Athena Merck (West Yarmouth, Mass.) posted a game best six points on three goals and three assists. Freshman Caitlyn Fielder (East Calais, Vt.) registered three goals, five draw controls, four ground balls and four caused turnovers.

Norwich goalie Carlie Henning (Dawsonville, Ga.) earned the win with 11 saves. Dean sophomore goalie Allie Stockwell (Burrillville, R.I.) suffered the loss and made 21 saves.  

The visitors took a 5-0 lead in the opening seven minutes, including two goals apiece from Merck and Jarvis. Gaunt got the Bulldogs on the board before Norwich scored the next two goals for a 7-1 lead. Medeiros then notched her first of the game, but Jarvis scored with 39 seconds left to give the Cadets an 8-2 lead after the first.

Norwich increased its lead to 11-2 with the first three goals of the second. Medeiros scored off a feed from Gaunt to make the score 11-3 at the half.

The Bulldogs battled out of the halftime break and scored three of the first four goals in the third to cut the deficit to 12-6. Norwich responded with a pair in the final 2:31 to retake a comfortable advantage at 14-6 heading into the fourth.

Dean outscored the Cadets 3-1 in the fourth but ran out of time to complete the comeback. Gaunt scored twice sandwiched around a Peterson goal.