BALANCED OFFENSE POWERS WOMEN’S LAX PAST BLUE JAYS, 21-10

BOSTON, Mass. – The Emmanuel College women's lacrosse team scored a season-high 21 goals en route to a 21-10 victory over the University of Saint Joseph (CT) Saturday afternoon at Roberto Clemente Field. The Saints improve to 4-2 on the year (1-2 GNAC) and remain unbeaten at home with a 3-0 mark while the loss drops the Blue Jays to 2-4 and 1-3 in conference play.

During the first half of play, Emmanuel was able to build up a 12-4 lead and never looked back. The Saints jumped out to a quick 4-0 advantage as freshman Monica Burdick (Pawcatuck, Conn.) and senior Madeline Leahy (Cohasset, Mass.) netted goals at the 24:34 and 24:18 marker before sophomore Madison Altwies (Southington, Conn.) scored back-to-back goals to make it 4-0 with 15:27 left in the half.

Freshman Eliza Doane (Portland, Conn.) got Saint Joseph on the board with 13:11 left in the half to make it 4-1 but Emmanuel responded by scoring the next three goals to make it 7-1. Sophomore Sarah Wootten (Berlin, Md.) scored in between a pair of goals from freshman Sarah Higgins (Groveland, Mass.) to account for the 7-1 Saints lead with 11:58 to play in the half.

Sophomore Dayna Gambino (Newington, Conn.) cut the EC lead to 7-2 just 29 second after Higgins' second score to make it a five-goal game but Emmanuel would convert the next two scores to take the 9-2 lead. Leahy and freshman Kristen Tuleja (Mansfield, Mass.) found the back of the net within a minute of each other before USJ junior Erika Leitao (Southington, Conn.) registered two goals in a row to make it a 9-4 game with 5:22 left in the half.

Emmanuel closed the half strong, scoring the final three goals to take the 12-4 lead into the break. Tuleja, Leahy and Wootten each added to their goal totals with scores before the halftime horn to make it an eight-goal game.

Wootten opened the second half scoring to give Emmanuel a 13-4 advantage with 23:25 left in the action before the Blue Jays scored three unanswered goals to cut the lead to 13-7. Sophomore Rachel Foster (Newington, Conn.) started the spurt before Gamibno and Doane returned to the scoring column to account for the 13-7 score with 19:48 left.

EC sophomore Alexia Basile (West Hartford, Conn.) cut into the USJ rally with a goal with 18:45 remaining to make it 14-7 but the Blue Jays continued to push, scoring two more to get with five goals with just under 13 minutes to play as junior Francesca Mastria (Higganum, Conn.) and Doane scored to make it 14-9. The Saints called a timeout and were able to regain control of the action, scoring the next four goals to put the game out of reach. Burdick, Leahy, Wootten and Tuleja scored unassisted goals to push the lead to 18-9 with less than 10 minutes remaining in the action.

Gambino broke up the EC run scoring the 10^th Blue Jays goal of the game before Emmanuel ended the game with the final three goals as Higgins scored with 7:22 remaining followed by back-to-back goals from Tuleja to cap the scoring at 21-10.

Tuleja finished the day with a game-high five goals while Leahy and Wootten each added four scores.

Gambino and Doane led the way for the Blue Jays with three goals apiece.

EC freshman goalie Lauren White (Lynnfield, Mass.) made 11 saves to earn the victory and improve to 4-2 on the year. Sophomore Lindsey Dionne (Portland, Conn.) also made 11 saves in net for Saint Joseph.

The Saints are back in action on Wednesday, April 3 when they head to Northfield, Vt. to take on Norwich University at 4:00 PM while the Blue Jays host the Cadets on Monday, April 1 at 4:00 PM.