EMMANUEL TURNS TIDE ON NORWICH; WOMEN’S LAX POSTS 13-7 VICTORY

BURLINGTON, Vt. –Freshman Sarah Higgins (Groveland, Mass.) and sophomore Madison Altwies (Southington, Conn.) recorded four goals each to lead the Emmanuel College Women's Lacrosse Team to a 13-7 win over the Cadets of Norwich University on Wednesday afternoon in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action at the University of Vermont's Virtue Field.

The Saints battled to a 9-5 first half lead and then doubled up the Cadets in the second stanza, outscoring Norwich, 4-2, en route to the six-goal win.  Norwich had previously defeated Emmanuel, 20-4, during the 2012 regular season and 14-4 in the opening round of last year's GNAC Tournament.  With this afternoon's win, the Saints improve to 5-2 overall and .500 at 2-2 in GNAC play.  With the loss, the Cadets fall to 1-4 overall and 1-3 in GNAC action.

In addition to the combined eight goals by Higgins and Altwies, the Saints received offensive contributions from Sarah Wootten (Berlin, Md.) with two goals, and a goal each from Kristen Tuleja (Mansfield, Mass.), Monica Burdick (Pawcatuck, Conn.) and Madeline Leahy (Cohasset, Mass.).

Norwich's offense was led by Grace Fitzpatrick (Falmouth, Maine) with two goals and an assist. Hope Royce (Washington, Vt.) also scored twice, while Gina Conroy (Amherst, N.H.), Emma Smith (Patterson, N.Y.) and Chandler Camlin (Stamford, Conn.) all netted a goal apiece.

The Cadets took a commanding 3-0 lead in the first 4:37 of the game, beginning with a free-position shot by Fitzpatrick 30 seconds after the opening whistle. Fitzpatrick dished out an assist to Camlin at the 27:49 mark, and Royce finished the opening run with an unassisted goal at 25:23.

Despite trailing early, the Saints began a comeback run with 23:55 left to play in the first half, as Leahy put the team on the board off an assist by Burdick. After a ten-minute scoring drought, Higgins and Burdick netted goals at 13:28 and 12:53, respectively, to even the score at 3-3.

The Saints would not look back from there, as Higgins and Tuleja netted back-to-back goals to put Emmanuel up 5-3.  Norwich's Conroy would score on a pass from Meghan Grenier (Voluntown, Conn.) with 8:27 left to play in the half, but Emmanuel would outscore the Cadets 4-1 in the remainder of the half to lead 9-5 at halftime.

Emmanuel opened the second half with a goal by Higgins and back-to-back goals by Altwies, before Norwich would get on the board on a goal by Fitzpatrick with 8:40 left to play. Royce buried a free-position shot with 6:24 left to play to bring the Cadets within five, but the Saints' Wootten tacked on a final goal with 1:08 left on the clock to claim the six-goal win.

Norwich goaltender Cheyenne Mata-Notel (East Hampton, N.Y.) registered 13 saves in net for the Cadets. Emmanuel netminder Lauren White (Lynnfield, Mass.) posted 10 saves for the Saints, who outshot Norwich 29-22 on the afternoon.  Fitzpatrick and Wootten both totaled six draw controls each for their respective teams.

Emmanuel will play again this Saturday on the Saints' home turf.  Emmanuel will host the Mustangs of Mount Ida College in a noontime start.  The Cadets also return to action on Saturday, as they travel to New England College for a 1:00 p.m. non-conference matchup.

 - Release courtesy of Norwich University Sports Information