SAINTS USE STRONG SECOND HALF TO ROLL PAST RAMS

BOSTON, Mass. – Emmanuel College defeated Framingham State University, 14-7, in non-conference women's lacrosse action played under the lights on Roberto Clemente Field on Tuesday night.  The win was the fifth-straight for the hosts Saints, who improve to 7-1 on the season and remain unbeaten on their home turf at 4-0.  The loss drops the Rams to an even 2-2 overall.

After holding a slight one-goal edge, 5-4, at halftime, the Saints out-scored the Rams, 9-3 in the second half to pull away with the seven-goal victory.  Emmanuel now leads the all-time series with FSU, 2-0.

The hosts wasted no time, as junior Kristen Tuleja (Mansfield, Mass.) got Emmanuel on the board just 16 seconds into the action.  The two squads would then trade markers with Framingham's senior Zoe Reilly (Boyertown, Pa.) accounting for the first two Rams' scores and sandwiching a goal by EC's Alexia Basile (West Hartford, Conn.) to tie the game at 2-2 just seven minutes into play.

Sophomore attack Jessica Graham (Woburn, Mass.) gave the visitors their first lead of the night, but EC's Sarah Higgins (Groveland, Mass.) quickly tied things up again on a free position shot midway through the first half.

Kimberly Foley (Mansfield, Mass.) gave FSU their final lead of the night at 4-3, before Higgins scored twice more unassisted before the close of the half and Emmanuel took a 5-4 edge into the break.

The Saints opened the second half, scoring three-straight with goals from Tuleja, Sarah Wootten (Berlin, Md.) and Emily Baker (Stratham, N.H.) to pull out in front, 8-4, with 19:47 remaining.

Framingham State got a spark from Kristen Hoggins (Harvard, Mass.), who netted her first on a two-goal night, just ten seconds after the draw control, following Baker's score.  With the Saints holding an 8-5 lead, Emmanuel rattled off four unanswered goals, including scores from Basile, Wootten, Higgins and a man-up tally from rookie Stephanie Warn (Hanson, Mass.), as the hosts surged out in front, 12-5.

Hoggins would net her second on a free position shot, before Madison Altwies (Southington, Conn.) and Tuleja struck again for the Saints.  FSU got a final score in the last minute of play, as Reilly completed her hat trick, but the Saints pulled out the 14-7 win.

Higgins finished with a five-point night for Emmanuel, coming off four goals and an assist, to go along with her game-high five groundballs.  Tuleja netted three goals, while Wootten and Basile connected on two apiece.  Wootten dished out two assists in the win, giving her a total of 24 helpers on the season.

Junior goalie Lauren White (Lynnfield, Mass.) made three saves and earned her seventh win in goal for the Saints.  FSU junior Alysha Cericola (Waltham, Mass.) took the loss for the Rams, but made eight saves in the effort.

The Saints will play at home again this Saturday, April 4th, when they face Simmons College in a noontime start on Clemente Field.  Framingham State will host Albertus Magnus College tomorrow, April 1st, at 4:30 PM.