2015 WOMEN’S LACROSSE SEASON IN REVIEW

BOSTON, Mass. – The 2015 Emmanuel College women's lacrosse team enjoyed another terrific campaign, posting an overall record of 12-4 to mark the first time in the program's five-year history that the squad recorded back-to-back season with double-digit win totals. The Saints also set a new program-record causing a total of 218 turnovers, breaking the previous record set in 2014 by 38 turnovers, and ended the year with a 7.50 goals against average to rank second overall in the GNAC. Despite the strong defensive numbers, EC ultimately fell in the GNAC Semifinal to Saint Joseph's (ME), 15-8.

For the first time in the program's history, the Saints opened the year with a spring break trip, travelling to Bradenton, Fla. for the 19^th Annual Spring Fling hosted by Sticks Up Lacrosse. Emmanuel got the job done posting wins over Curry and Becker College to jump out to a 2-0 record for the third straight year.

With the warm weather behind them, the team returned to the Northeast and was rudely awakened by Johnson & Wales University with an 11-4 loss on March 14. The loss marked the Saints first regular-season GNAC loss since April 13, 2013, ending a streak of 11 straight GNAC wins.

The team regrouped and from March 20 through April 4 rattled off six straight wins to improve to 8-1 on the year and 4-1 in the GNAC. The streak culminated with a huge 18-13 victory over neighboring Simmons College powered by a single-game program record 10 point performance by junior Kristen Tuleja (Mansfield, Mass.). Tuleja scored five goals to go along with a record-tying five assists to lift the Saints to a win.

On April 6, the Saints went head to head with Saint Joseph's (ME) in a showdown for first place in the GNAC. Emmanuel came out on fire taking a 5-1 lead into halftime before the Monks mounted an impressive comeback to steal a 7-6 road win.

The back luck continued the following game as EC fell to Lasell College, 10-9, in another thriller. Emmanuel lead 9-8 following a goal by junior Sarah Higgins (Groveland, Mass.) with under five minutes to play but the Lasers would tie the game up with 3:41 remaining before scoring the game-winner with just 10 seconds left on the clock to five the Saints their second straight one-goal GNAC loss.

The Saints turned the corner and from there closed out the regular season with three straight wins, outscoring the three opponents by a 56-17 margin. EC closed out the regular season with a 6-3 record in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action to earn the No. 4 seed heading into the conference tournament.

In the GNAC Quarterfinals, the No. 4 Saints made quick work on No. 5 Mount Ida College with a 22-6 win. EC scored 15 first-half goals to take a commanding 15-4 halftime lead en route to the 16 goal victory. The 22 goals scored tied the single-game program high while the 15 first-half goals also equaled the single-half record.

Emmanuel advanced to the GNAC Semifinals to face No. 1 Saint Joseph's College (ME), playing the Monks in the GNAC postseason for the third straight year. The teams had spilt in their two previous playoff meetings with the Monks posting a 2013 GNAC Semifinal win over the Saints before Emmanuel evened the series with a 2014 victory in the GNAC Championship game.  In the third meeting, the score was tied midway through the first half at 4-4 before the Monks rattled off three straight goals to take the lead for good heading into the half. Saint Joseph's would hold on for the 15-8 win and go on to capture the GNAC Championship later that weekend.

Tuleja wrapped up another stellar season finishing with 70 points on 51 goals and 19 assists to rank second in both points and goals for a single-season among the program leaders. She earned First Team All-GNAC honors along with sophomore defender Savannah Lundwall (Fiskdale, Mass.).

Joining the pair on the All-Conference team were Higgins, junior goalie Lauren White (Lynnfield, Mass.) and senior Sarah Wootten (Berlin, Md.). The trio earned Second Team honors and each respectively made their second consecutive appearance on the All-Conference team.

The Saints will look to capture the program's second GNAC Championship in 2016, returning all but five players from the 2015 roster as Wootten graduates along with Shannen Corrigan (Southington, Conn.), Emma Mugerwa (Andover, Mass.), Alexia Basile (West Hartford, Conn.) and Madison Altwies (Southington, Conn.).