OFFENSIVE OUTBURST POWERS WOMEN’S LACROSSE PAST MOUNT IDA, 22-6, IN GNAC QUARTERFINALS
BOSTON, Mass. – The Emmanuel College women’s lacrosse team tied its single-game goal record en route to a 22-6 victory over Mount Ida College Wednesday evening in Quarterfinals action of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference tournament at Roberto Clemente Field. The 22 goals equaled the program’s highest total from April 21, 2012 against Rivier University and the 15 goals scored in the first half matched the highest goal total scored in a half, last done on March 21, 2014 vs. Anna Maria. With the win, EC improves to 12-3 on the year and advances to the GNAC Semifinals while the loss caps the Mustangs season at 5-11 overall.
BOSTON, Mass. – The Emmanuel College women's lacrosse team tied its single-game goal record en route to a 22-6 victory over Mount Ida College Wednesday evening in Quarterfinals action of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference tournament at Roberto Clemente Field. The 22 goals equaled the program's highest total from April 21, 2012 against Rivier University and the 15 goals scored in the first half matched the highest goal total scored in a half, last done on March 21, 2014 vs. Anna Maria. With the win, EC improves to 12-3 on the year and advances to the GNAC Semifinals while the loss caps the Mustangs season at 5-11 overall.
In a highly contested game early on, the Saints scored first to take a 1-0 lead on a goal by junior Sarah Higgins (Groveland, Mass.) but Mount Ida answered immediately, tying the game at 1-1 on a tally by sophomore Rebecca Beaulieu (Weare, N.H.). Emmanuel regained the lead at 2-1 on an Amanda Cook (Saco, Maine) goal but the Mustangs responded with a strike by sophomore Nikki Kinnen (Salem, N.H.) to even the score at 2-2 with 23:05 to play in the half.
The Saints took control of the action over the next eight minutes, going on a 4-0 run to open up a 6-2 lead. Senior middie Sarah Wootten (Berlin, Md.) scored two of the goals during the run including the marker at 15:30 to give Emmanuel the four-goal cushion.
Mount Ida junior Samantha Basley (Plymouth, Mass.) cut the lead in half with a goal to make it 6-3 but Emmanuel made sure to put the game out of reach, rattling off the next seven goals to build a 13-3 lead. Wootten, junior middie Kristen Tuleja (Mansfield, Mass.) and senior attack Madison Altwies (Southington, Conn.) all scored twice during the spurt.
Emmanuel was almost able to keep the GNAC's leading scorer, Mount Ida attack Amanda Bowen (Randolph, Vt.) off the scoreboard in the first half but the senior found the back of the net with 1:04 to play in the opening stanza to pull Mount Ida to single digits at 13-4. It was short-lived as the Saints closed the half strong with back-to-back scores by senior middie Alexia Basile (West Hartford, Conn.) to account for a 15-4 halftime score.
In the second half, Bowen and Beaulieu each added their second goals of the game for the Mustangs while seven different Saints scored for Emmanuel to account for the 22-6 final.
Wootten finished the evening with a game-high nine points on five goals and four assists while Tuleja chipped in with six points on three goals and three assists.
Junior goalie Lauren White (Lynnfield, Mass.) earned the win, her 12th of the year, making two saves while Mount Ida freshman Sydney Fredette (Hudson, Mass.) came up with nine saves.
The Saints will travel to No. 1 Saint Joseph's (ME) for the GNAC Semifinals this Friday, April 24 for a rematch of the 2014 GNAC Championship game in which the Saints defeated the Monks, 17-7. Earlier this season Saint Joseph's topped Emmanuel, 7-6, as the Monks were able to overcome a 5-1 halftime deficit, outscoring the host Saints 6-1 in the second half for the win. The Monks advanced to the Semifinals following a 21-5 victory over No. 8 Rivier University in other GNAC Quarterfinal action. Gametime is set for 7:30 PM at Scarborough High School.