SAINTS COAST PAST BLUEJAYS, 17-3

BOSTON, Mass. – Senior captain Sarah Wootten (Berlin, Md.) set a new Emmanuel College single-game record, dishing out five assists to lead the Saints past the University of Saint Joseph (CT), 17-3, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's lacrosse action played on a rain-soaked Clemente Field on Wednesday night.  The host Saints netted 14 goals in the first half and never looked back, improving to 4-1 on the season and 2-1 in league play.  The Bluejays evened their record to 2-2 overall and 1-1 against conference opponents.

With the win, the Saints remain unbeaten against the Bluejays, with the all-time series at 6-0 and dating back to Emmanuel's first varsity season in 2011.

Wootten and the Saints wasted no time, with Emmanuel scoring three times in the first two and a half minutes and Wootten assisting on all three goals.  After dishing out her fourth assist of the night on a goal by Sarah Higgins (Groveland, Mass.) with 18:42 on the clock, Wootten netted a goal of her own to put the Saints up, 8-0.  She would then find Kristen Tuleja (Mansfield, Mass.) open for a 9-0 EC lead midway through the first half, setting the program's single game record with five assists in a game.

Emmanuel found the back of the net 13 times, dominating first half action, before USJ got on the scoreboard with just under six minutes remaining in the half.  Rookie attack Danielle Bazzano (South Windsor, Conn.) scored off an assist from Dayna Gambino (Newington, Conn.) to break the ice for the Bluejays.  Gambino, this week's GNAC Women's Lacrosse Player of the Week, then scored herself with 2:55 remaining, giving the visitors a pair of goals before the break.

Holding a 14-2 lead at halftime, Emmanuel outshot USJ, 22-5, in the opening frame.

The Saints tacked on two more markers midway through the second stanza, before Gambino netted her second goal of the night with just four minutes left to play.  Before it was over, Emmanuel got one final goal from junior attack Monica Burdick (Stonington, Conn.), coming off an assist from Avery Yang (Lincoln, R.I.), and the Saints pulled away with the 17-3 win.

The Saints finished the night with a 27-9 shooting advantage and owned a 21-8 edge in groundballs.

Wootten ended the night with her six points, while also winning three draw controls.  Tuleja and Higgins notched a hat-trick apiece.  Higgins also handed out three helpers and recorded a game-high eight groundballs.

Burdick, Emily Baker (Stratham, N.H.) and Alexia Basile (West Hartford, Conn.) had two-goal outings, while Abaigeal Merrigan (Rye, N.H.), Amanda Cook (Saco, Me.) Stephanie Warn (Hanson, Mass.) and Emily Gilman (Windham, Maine) netted a goal apiece in the win for the Saints.

Junior goalie Lauren White (Lynnfield, Mass.) made three saves to pick up her fourth win of the season for Emmanuel, improving to 4-1 on the year.  Rookie goalie Emily Bourassa (Bristol, Conn.) made seven saves in the effort for USJ.

The Saints will play again at Clemente Field tomorrow night for their third consecutive home game.  Emmanuel will host Regis College in non-conference action at 7:00 PM.  University of Saint Joseph will host Albertus Magnus College in a GNAC contest on Saturday afternoon in a 3:45 PM start.