WOMEN'S LACROSSE DROPS GNAC OPENER TO JWU, 11-4
Providence, R.I. – The Johnson & Wales University women’s lacrosse team defeated Emmanuel College, 11-4, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference contest on Saturday afternoon at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletics Complex.
Providence, R.I. – The Johnson & Wales University women's lacrosse team defeated Emmanuel College, 11-4, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference contest on Saturday afternoon at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletics Complex.
JWU started the scoring spree in the first half with an unassisted tally by junior Jessica Schmell (Coopersburg, Pa.) just 2:48 into the game. Both teams went back and forth with goals in the next 18 minutes including two goals apiece from Wildcats junior Marissa Hart (Cohoes, N.Y.) and from Saints junior Kristen Tuleja (Mansfield, Mass.). With the score knotted at 3-3 with 7:36 on the clock Hart connected with her third of the game to give JWU the one goal edge. She buried her fourth and fifth of the half, including one at the buzzer to give the Wildcats a 6-3 advantage heading into the locker room. The hosts outshot Emmanuel 14-10 in the half.
JWU continued where they left off with a barrage of goals to begin the second half. Freshman Raquel Pederzani (Coventry, R.I.) scored her first of the season just under two minutes into the second half to give the Wildcats a 7-3 advantage. Classmate Gabrielle Vasile (Milford, Mass.) buried back-to-back goals at 26:19 and 25:54 before sophomore Lydia Knapp (Glens Falls, N.Y.)connected on two consecutive goals 13 minutes apart to extend the Wildcat lead to 11-3 with 11:30 remaining. Tuleja's third of the day came with 9:09 remaining to bring the Saints within seven, 11-4. The Wildcats defense stood tall with some big saves coming down the stretch from senior Genevieve Giampietro (Meriden, Conn.) to secure the 11-4 victory.
Giampietro made ten saves in the win for the Wildcats while Lauren White (Lynnfield, Mass.) had nine stops for Emmanuel in the loss.
With the victory, the Wildcats improve to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in GNAC action while Emmanuel falls to 2-1 and 0-1 in conference play. The Wildcats will return to action on Tuesday, March 17thwhen they travel to Curry for a non-conference contest beginning at 6:00 p.m.
*Release courtesy of JWU Sports Information Dept.