2013 WOMEN’S LACROSSE SEASON IN REVIEW

The Emmanuel College Women's Lacrosse Team put together its most successful season ever this spring, boasting a program-record for wins in a season and advancing to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play-offs for the second-straight year.  The Saints wrapped up the 2013 campaign at 9-5 overall and 5-4 in GNAC play. 

The record-breaking season included a 13-7 win over 2012 GNAC Champion Norwich University, as well as consecutive wins over GNAC foes Mount Ida College (13-12) and Rivier University (8-6).  The Saints suffered two tough losses on the road at Saint Joseph's College (Me.), including a 15-14 regular-season defeat and a 17-9 loss in the quarterfinal round of the GNAC Tournament. 

Offensively, the Saints were led by freshman standout Kristen Tuleja (Mansfield, Mass.).  The rookie midfielder led the Saints with 38 goals this season, ranking her 12^th among the GNAC's leading scorers.  She also dished out 12 assists for 50 total points in a solid rookie campaign. Tuleja was honored by the GNAC a couple of times during the season, including being named the GNAC Rookie of the Week on April 15^th, as well as being voted a GNAC 2^nd Team All-Conference selection. 

Along with Tuleja, freshman midfielder Sarah Higgins (Groveland, Mass.) also celebrated a terrific rookie year.  Higgins was Emmanuel's second leading scorer with 25 goals, to go along with her 9 assists.  She also ranked second on the squad in groundballs with 54 on the year.  Sophomore transfer Sarah Wootten (Berlin, Md.) started in all 14 games and led the Saints in groundballs with a total of 56. 

Sophomores Alexia Basile (West Hartford, Conn.) and Madison Altwies (Southington, Conn.) combined for 43 goals and 43 groundballs in their second year of collegiate action.  Fellow-sophomore Megan Mattox (Upton, Mass.) anchored the Saints' defensive unit this season, scooping up 34 groundballs. For her defensive pressure, Mattox also joined Tuleja on the All-GNAC 2^nd Team. 

The Saints will lose three-time team captain Madeline Leahy (Cohasset, Mass.) to graduation this year.  Leahy netted 21 goals and dished out 15 assists in her senior season.  She will graduate as Emmanuel's all-time leader in almost every major statistical category, including goals, assists, total points and groundballs.  Leahy was honored with the spot on the GNAC's All-Sportsmanship Team in 2013. 

Along with Leahy, the Saints will lose three-year starter Jessica Lucas (Stoneham, Mass.) and senior defender Hillary Carr (Narragansett, R.I.) to graduation.  Lucas joins Leahy as the program's all-time leader in games played and games started.  Carr was solid on the Saints' defensive unit for the past two seasons. 

Freshman Lauren White (Lynnfield, Mass.) enjoyed an incredible freshman year as the Saints' starting goalie, playing all 846:00 minutes throughout the 2013 season.  White was named the GNAC Women's Lacrosse Goalie of the Week twice this year.  She collected 129 saves and earned a 46.1% save percentage, while tallying a program-record 9 wins in goal for the Saints. 

Head Coach Amanda Laws will return in 2014 for her fourth season at the helm of Emmanuel's varsity program. Although she is losing three seniors to graduation, Laws expects to return 14 veterans, as the squad continues to make waves in the GNAC next spring.