WOMEN’S LACROSSE PAIRED AGAINST WHEATON IN NCAA TOURNEY

BOSTON, Mass. – The Emmanuel College Women's Lacrosse Team has received its first round NCAA Tournament match-up. The Saints will face Wheaton College in the opening round of the national tournament on Wednesday, May 7th.  The contest will take place at Diane Nordon '80 Athletic Field on the Wheaton campus at 7:00 PM.

Emmanuel is making the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance after capturing the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship last week with a 17-7 win over visiting Saint Joseph's College (ME).  The 15-2 Saints dropped two one-goal non-conference matches during the regular season, but are currently riding an 11-game win streak, heading into first round NCAA action.

The Lyons earned the automatic bid after capturing the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) tournament last week, defeating Babson College 8-5 in the title game. The NEWMAC crown for Wheaton was the program's third and they enter the NCAA tournament with a 13-6 overall record, just one win shy of tying the second-highest win total in a season.

Wheaton's roster bolsters four All-NEWMAC selections including First Teamer Devon Soucier (Avon, Conn.). Souicer is now a three-time All-Conference honoree for the Lyons and enters the NCAA tournament ranked second all-time at Wheaton in draw controls (165), third in caused turnovers (122) and ninth in ground balls (167). Among all NEWMAC student-athletes this season, Soucier ranks third in caused turnovers (26), fourth in draw controls (65) and fifth in ground balls (42). Seniors Hayley Bright (Cumberland, Maine) and Leile Mills (Brunswick, Maine) as well as sophomore Brooke Sabol (Landgrove, Vt.) were named NEWMAC Second Team selections while Head Coach Emily Kiablick was tabbed the NEWMAC Coach of the Year after guiding the Lyons to a 14-0 regular season title.

The Saints had five members that were tabbed All-GNAC selections including First Team nods to sophomores Kristen Tuleja (Mansfield, Mass) and Sarah Higgins (Groveland, Mass.). Tuleja, Emmanuel's leader in goals, assists and points this season, now owns the Saints' all-time program records in all three categories.  Tuleja fired in 61 goals and dished out 31 assists for 92 points on the year, to rank 2nd in the conference in the three categories. Higgins has been dominant at both ends of the field for the Saints.  The sophomore defenseman anchors Emmanuel's defense and set new program–records for single-season and career groundballs.  Higgins' 65 groundballs on the year ranked her 5th among the GNAC leaders, while her team-leading 36 caused-turnovers was good enough for 3rd in the conference. 

Junior Sarah Wootten (Berlin, Md.), sophomore Lauren White (Lynnfield, Mass.) and freshman Emily Baker (Stratham, N.H.) earned Second Team honors for Emmanuel while first-year Head Coach Liz Goddard received the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honors after leading the Saints to a 10-0 regular season title and the program's first-ever Championship.

Diane Nordon '80 Athletic Field is located on the Wheaton College campus directly behind the Haas Athletic Center in Norton, Mass. Directions can be found here.

LIVESTATS and VIDEO will be available for this NCAA game.

Tickets prices will be: $5 adult, $3 senior, $3 student (with ID) and children $2.

GO SAINTS!!