Second Half Surge Leads Saint Anselm Past Women's Lacrosse
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Saint Anselm outscored the American International College women's lacrosse team 9-3 in the second half en route to a 19-9 victory Saturday afternoon at John Homer Miller Field. The Hawks improved to 5-8 on the season and 4-5 in the Northeast-10, while the Yellow Jackets dropped to 0-13 overall and 0-7 in conference play. Seniors Alexis Castro (Chula Vista, Calif.), Jackie McManus (Port Washington, N.Y.) and Caitlin Mooney (Wilbraham, Mass.) were honored in a Senior Day ceremony prior to the start of the game.
Freshman Courtney Ford (Concord, Mass.) scored twice in the first three minutes and Beth Millian (Arlington, Mass.) made it a 3-0 game in favor of Saint Anselm 4:31 into the contest. Castro got AIC on the board two minutes later, but the Hawks answered by scoring four of the next five goals to take a 7-2 lead at the 15:38 mark of the first half.
Mooney responded with three consecutive goals of her own in a three-minute span to pull the Yellow Jackets back within two, 7-5, with 7:40 remaining in the opening frame, but Saint Anselm tallied four if the final five goals of the first half to take a 10-6 halftime lead.
Senior Arden Lyons (Westford, Mass.) opened the second half scoring for the Hawks and junior Katie Warner (Westfield, Mass.) answered for AIC to make it an 11-7 contest 3:19 into the second stanza before Saint Anselm went on a 7-0 run to take a commanding 18-7 lead with 10:41 to go in the contest.
Ford scored a game-high five goals for the Hawks, while juniors Jennifer Carew (Concord, N.H.) and Michelle Rocha (Rye, N.H.) added two goals and two assists each. Mooney led the Yellow Jackets with three goals and four points and Warner added two goals and three points.
Freshman Katherine O'Hara (Norwell, Mass.) made four saves and allowed seven goals in 49:35 to pick up the win in goal for Saint Anselm, while fellow freshman Gina Gallo (Westfield, Mass.) made 17 stops in taking the loss for AIC.
The Yellow Jackets will close out the home portion of their home
schedule Tuesday when they host Stonehill at 4 p.m.