WOMEN’S LACROSSE HOLDS ON FOR 9-8 WIN OVER FRAMINGHAM STATE

BOSTON, Mass. – The Emmanuel College women's lacrosse team held on for a 9-8 win over Framingham State University in non-conference action Wednesday evening at Roberto Clemente Field. The Saints led by four goals with under eight minutes to play before the Rams made things interesting but EC held on for its first win of the year to improve to 1-5 overall while the loss drops FSU to 5-3.

The Saints never trailed in the action and got things started quickly with a goal by senior Emily Baker (Stratham, N.H.) just 12 seconds after the opening draw to take a 1-0 lead. Junior middie Stephanie Warn (Hanson, Mass.) made it 2-0 with her fifth tally of the season minutes later before Framingham State answered with back-to-back scored from junior middie Kimmy Foley (Mansfield, Mass.) and freshman middie Grace Gamache (Dartmouth, Mass.) to even the game at 2-2 with 17:31 to play in the half.

EC senior Savannah Lundwall (Fiskdale, Mass.) scored twice within 32 seconds to give the hosts a two-goal lead again at 4-2 but the Rams responded with scores from Gamache and sophomore middie Shae Riley (Fairhaven, Mass.) to tie things back up at 4-4 with just over 10 minutes remaining in the opening stanza.

Baker and Warn kept the alternating two-goal pattern alive for Emmanuel to bump EC back on top 6-4 before FSU rookie middie Nicole Pacheco (Woburn, Mass.) closed out the first half scoring with her ninth marker of the campaign to pull the Rams to within one at 6-5 heading into the intermission.

Despite trailing at the break, the Rams owned a 15-10 advantage in shots during the opening half.

The hosts came out with a strong defensive showing in the second period, holding the Rams scoreless for the opening 23 minutes while building its lead up to 9-5 with goals from freshman Allison Hutchings, Lundwall and senior Abaigeal Merrigan (Rye, N.H.) Hutchings goal was the first of her collegiate career.

The Rams would not go away quietly as Foley converted a man-down free-position shot to cut the lead to 9-6 with 6:40 to play. Pacheco made it 9-7 with under five minutes to play before Gamache made it a one-goal game at 9-8 with 59 seconds remaining. Framingham State was able to get the ball back with a chance to tie the score but was unable to get a shot off before time expired.

EC goalie Bethany Bonilla-Colon (Milton, Mass.) earned her first collegiate win in goal making 10 saves while FSU sophomore Indigo Fox Tree-McGrath (Bedford, Mass.) made three saves for the Rams.

The Saints return to action on Saturday, April 1 when they travel to Albertus Magnus College for a GNAC contest scheduled for 11:00 AM while the Rams play host to Worcester State at 12:00 PM the same day in their MASCAC opener.