STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Shaunna Kaplan (Framingham, Mass.), an America East All-Rookie Team selection from the University of New Hampshire women’s lacrosse team, matched her career highs in goals (three) and points (four) but Boston University built a seven-goal halftime lead and went on to record a 16-4 win against UNH in Friday afternoon’s semifinal game of the America East Championship at Kenneth LaValle Stadium.

UNH, the tourney’s number three seed with a 4-2 conference record, ends the season at 7-10; the Wildcats, in their conference-record 10^th consecutive tournament appearance, had advanced to the championship game each of the previous five years. Second-seeded BU, who shared the regular-season crown with a 5-1 league mark, extended its winning streak to eight games to improve to 12-5.

            The Terriers, who recorded a 7-5 road victory vs. UNH in the regular season, took a 7-0 lead into halftime. The Wildcats recorded more turnovers (13) than shots (seven) and UNH starting goalkeeper Ashley Milley (Sudbury, Mass.) recorded six saves in the opening 30 minutes.

            BU’s Sarah Dalton (3g) netted the first two goals of the game – at 26:40 and 24:35 – to give the Terriers an early 2-0 lead. UNH won the ensuing draw control and Ashley Durepo (Concord, N.H.) curled around the left post but was denied by BU goalie Jenna Golden. Angie Martin scored at 23:02 to extend the advantage to 3-0 and, following a UNH turnover, Traci Landy netted the first of her three goals for a 4-0 lead at 21:19.

            New Hampshire called time out at that point. The ‘Cats committed turnovers on their next four possessions – Milley recorded two saves in that span to keep UNH close – and then Kaplan fired a shot wide of the cage at 13:00.

            McKinley Curro’s goal at 11:59 gave the Terriers a five-goal lead and Lauren Morton, with the assistance of Curro, struck at 9:37.

            UNH’s Sarah Von Bargen (E. Setauket, N.Y.) was denied by Golden at 8:00 and Michaela Hardy (Reading, Mass.) hit the crossbar at 2:45. Moments later, Beth Sabiston (Bay Shore, N.Y.) was turned away on a free position.

            Dalton netted her third goal of the first half with 57.3 seconds remaining in the first half to give BU its 7-0 halftime lead.

            BU capitalized on the Wildcats’ defense early in the second half by hitting open cutters and converting the passes into goals by Kait Gentry (at 29:34), Landy (28:12) and Molly Collins (27:26) to build a 10-0 lead.

            Kaplan put the ‘Cats into the scoring column at 25:55 when she cut from the left side of the fan to the middle and fired a side-arm shot into the net. Collins struck again at 24:37 and 22:31 to give BU a 12-1 lead. Minutes later, Kaplan scooped up a ground ball near midfield and drove to the top of the fan before passing down low to Von Bargen, who scored from the right side at 20:01.

            Collins scored her fourth and fifth goals of the half 64 seconds apart to push the advantage to 14-2, then Landy and Kelly Munroe tallied goals for a 16-2 differential.

            Lauren McMullen (Amherst, N.H.) entered the game in goal at that point. She did not allow a goal and made one save in the final 10:43. Milley finished with seven saves.

            Kaplan netted unassisted goals at 3:55 and 1:04 to increase her season total to 23 and close the game’s scoring.

            BU’s Golden finished with four saves and surrendered two goals in 50:01. Rachel Klein played the final 9:59 and had two saves.

            Bailley Mazur (Longmeadow, Mass.), who joined Von Bargen on the America East All-Conference First Team, finished the game with one ground ball, one caused turnover and two draw controls. Ashley Crook (South Burlington, Mass.) recorded two ground balls, two caused turnovers and one ground ball.

            The end of the season marked end of UNH careers for seniors Alexa Webster (Aurora, Colo.) and Christine Carbone (Nashua, N.H.). Webster ended her career with 84 points on 66 goals and 18 assists in 60 career games. Carbone tallied 151 ground balls and 63 caused turnovers in addition to three goals and three assists in 65 career games. The Class of 2007 is the second-winningest class in UNH history with 44 wins.