TULEJA STAYS HOT, SAINTS REMAIN UNBEATEN IN GNAC

BOSTON, Mass. - Emmanuel College senior Kristen Tuleja (Mansfield, Mass.) followed up Saturday's record-breaking performance with a seven-goal effort on Tuesday evening to lead the Saints to a 15-8 victory over Simmons College in Great Northeast Athletic Conference women's lacrosse action.

Tuleja, the reigning GNAC Player of the Week, and classmate Sarah Higgins (Groveland, Mass.), four goals and four assists, combined for 15 points as the Saints rolled to a fifth-straight GNAC win, improving to 7-2 overall and 5-0 in the conference. With the loss, Simmons drops to 5-6 on the year and 2-4 in conference play.

The first half was a low-scoring period, as the Saints lead was just 5-3 at the half. Emmanuel took the game's first lead, 28 seconds in, on Abaigeal Merrigan's (Rye, N.H.) tenth goal of the season. Higgins, who assisted on the first goal, scored 1:16 later to double the lead.

The Sharks responded with three straight goals, as freshman Elena Bragg (Belmont, Mass.) scored twice to tie the score with 24:20 to play and freshman Missie Maiewski (Northampton, Mass.) put the visitors up 3-2 with 14:22 on the clock.

Emmanuel ended the half on a three-goal run to take the lead into halftime. Higgins scored off an Emily Baker (Stratham, N.H.) assist and Tuleja added a pair of unassisted tallies to give the hosts the 5-3 lead.

Tuleja and Maiewski traded markers to open the second half, and neither side would score again until Higgins found twine at the 14:57 mark. 

From there, the rout was on, as the Saints outscored the Sharks 9-4 over the final 15 minutes of play to earn the comfortable win. 

In addition to her eight points, Higgins earned eight draw controls and four ground balls. She has 34 goals and 22 assists for 56 points on the year. Tuleja put 11 shots on goal en route to scoring her team leading 40th goal of the season.

Baker also filled the scoresheet for the Saints, picking up a pair of goals and four assists, running her season totals to 19 goals, 19 assists, and 38 points. Senior Lauren White (Lynnfield, Mass.) made 11 saves to improve to 7-2 for the year.

Bragg picked up a hat trick for Simmons, while Maiewski and sophomore Kasey Fries (Bridgewater, Mass.) each scored a pair. Freshman Kenzie Rogers (Bourne, Mass.) made 15 saves in the loss, dropping to 5-6 on the season.