LIONS CHARGE PAST WOMEN'S LACROSSE, 18-12

BOSTON, Mass. – A second-half surge by the Emmanuel Saints wasn't enough to stop the potent offense of the Emerson Women's Lacrosse Team as the Lions rolled to an 18-12 win Saturday. With the win the Lions improve to 8-6 on the year and 5-2 in conference play as Emmanuel falls to 7-4 overall and 4-4 in the GNAC.

The first half saw the Lions jump out to an early lead as the leading GNAC goal scorer, Chelsea Phillips, got to work early as she put away the first of her six on the day in the first 70 seconds of the game. Alex Corrado followed her lead 33 seconds later for a quick 2-0 Emerson lead.

The Saints came to play though, answering with two goals of their own by Christina Vickers and Madeline Leahy. Another Emerson goal was answered yet again by Leahy to knot it 3-3, but Mackenzie Johnson broke the tie rapidly with a goal in the eighth minute of action for a lead that Emerson never relinquished.

Tracie Lombardo dropped a nasty shot on the Saints in the ninth minute to make it 5-3 before Emmanuel's Sarah Higgins made it 5-4 off a free position shot before Johnson went on a tear, adding two more goals for Emerson to send the Lions into the break up 8-4.

Mackenzie Johnson wasn't satisfied with three goals in the first half though as she kicked open the second half with another goal 35 seconds in. Kanika Misra jumped into the fray with a goal four minutes into the half. Emmanuel scratched another goal on the board by Alexia Basile that Mackenzie Johnson answered before three unanswered goals brought the Saints back into the game 11-8. Two of the scores came from Higgins while the eight Emmanuel goals was scored by Madison Altwies.

Chelsea Phillips answered with another goal, but the Saints marched again with three more goals that put the hosts on their heels with their lead cut to one at 12-11 following back-to-back scores from Kristen Tuleja. Coming out of a time out the Lions locked back in and stepped up to drop five unanswered goals to pull away from the Saints who posted only one more goal as Emerson closed out the win 18-12.

Higgins led the Saints with a team-high four goals and six draw controls. 

Victoria Kanaris made 12 saves in net for the Lions to earn the win while Lauren White posted 14 saves from Emmanuel.

Emerson hits the road to continue GNAC action this week as they travel to Anna Maria this Wednesday. Game time is set for 6:30 p.m. in Paxton, Mass. Emmanuel is idle until April 18 when it will host Wheelock College at 7:00 p.m.

*Release courtesy of Emerson College Sports Information