SAINTS REMAIN PERFECT IN GNAC WITH COMEBACK WIN

BOSTON, Mass. - Emmanuel College senior Sarah Higgins (Groveland, Mass.) scored seven goals to fuel a 16-12 comeback victory for the Saints over Lasell College in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's lacrosse action on Tuesday night.

The win lifts Emmanuel's overall record to 5-2 and they stay perfect in GNAC play at 3-0. The Lasers slip to 6-4 on the season and 2-1 in the conference.

Higgins scored the game's first goal just 1:33 into the first half, before Lasell responded by scoring six of the next seven goals to take a 6-2 lead with 12:33 remaining until halftime.

Freshman Vanessa Pino (Methuen, Mass.) and senior Taylor Dooley (Barnstable, Mass.) sparked the early run for Lasell, scoring a pair of goals each in the 15-minute span. Freshman Jordan McComb (Cumberland, R.I.) and senior Bridget Doherty (Franklin, Mass.) each tallied goals in the stretch as well. 

Senior Kristen Tuleja (Mansfield, Mass.) scored EC's only goal in the run, which was sandwiched between three Lasell goals on either side. Higgins then singlehandedly outscored Lasell 3-1 over the last 8:37 of the half to pull the Saints to a 7-5 deficit at the break.

McComb, senior Bridget Munnelly (Bellingham, Mass.), and senior Ashley Pechulis (Westfield, Mass.) all scored in the opening four minutes of the second half, as the Lasers jumped back out to a four-goal lead at 10-6.

However, that was where Emmanuel would turn the tables, as the Saints began a 10-2 run over the final 22:56 of regulation.

The Saints did it in pairs, as Higgins, Tuleja, junior Savannah Lundwall (Fiskdale, Mass.), and sophomore Stephanie Warn (Hanson, Mass.) all scored consecutive pairs of goals in the second half. Tuleja's goals bookended a goal by Munnelly, and the senior would score another after Lundwall's pair to tie the game at 12. 

Warn's back-to-back goals put the Saints ahead 14-12 with 5:23 to play. Tuleja and junior Abaigeal Merrigan (Rye, N.H.) each scored in the final five minutes to close out the 16-12 victory for the home team.

Higgins finished with seven goals and an assist, one goal shy of tying the program record for goals in a single game. The senior attack has 26 goals on the season. 

Tuleja, 24 goals on the year, added four in the game, along with an assist. Lundwall and Warn each tallied two goals and an assist, while Merrigan had one each. Junior Emily Baker (Stratham, N.H.) also chipped in with two assists. Reiging GNAC Goalkeeper of the Week senior Lauren White (Lynnfield, Mass.) made 13 saves in the win.

Munnelly tallied a hat-trick for the visitors, while teammates McComb, Dooley, and Pino all picked up a pair of goals. Pechulis scored twice and dished out an assist and sophomore Taylor Yandow (Moretown, Vt.) shared the wealth with two assists as well. Junior Brooke Bergeron (Lynn, Mass.) took the loss for the Lasers.

Next up for the Saints is a Saturday home contest with Norwich as the Cadets visit Clemente Field at noon on April 9. The Lasers are idle until Thursday, April 14, when they host Saint Joe's Maine at 4:00 p.m.