Saints' Second Half Surge Sends Emmanuel over Women's Lacrosse 16-12

BOSTON, Mass. – The Lasell women's lacrosse team fell to a second half rally by Emmanuel College, 16-12, Tuesday evening at Clemente Field. The Lasers slip to 6-4 overall and 2-1 in the GNAC, while the Saints improve to 5-2 this season and stay perfect in GNAC play 3-0.

Emmanuel College senior Sarah Higgins (Groveland, Mass.) fueled the late comeback, as she scored seven goals in victory for the Saints. Higgins scored the game's first goal just 1:33 into the first half, before Lasell responded by scoring six of the next seven goals to take a 6-2 lead with 12:33 remaining until halftime.

Freshman Vanessa Pino (Methuen, Mass.) and senior Taylor Dooley (Barnstable, Mass.) sparked the early run for Lasell, scoring a pair of goals each in the 15-minute span. Freshman Jordan McComb (Cumberland, R.I.) and senior Bridget Doherty (Franklin, Mass.) each tallied goals in the stretch as well. 

Senior Kristen Tuleja (Mansfield, Mass.) scored EC's only goal in the run, which was sandwiched between three Lasell goals on either side. Higgins then singlehandedly outscored Lasell 3-1 over the last 8:37 of the half to pull the Saints to a 7-5 deficit at the break.

McComb, senior Bridget Munnelly (Bellingham, Mass.), and senior Ashley Pechulis (Westfield, Mass.) all scored in the opening four minutes of the second half, as the Lasers jumped back out to a four-goal lead at 10-6. 

However, that was where Emmanuel would turn the tables, as the Saints began a 10-2 run over the final 22:56 of regulation.

The Saints did it in pairs, as Higgins, Tuleja, junior Savannah Lundwall (Fiskdale, Mass.), and sophomore Stephanie Warn (Hanson, Mass.) all scored consecutive pairs of goals in the second half. Tuleja's goals bookended a goal by Munnelly, and the senior would score another after Lundwall's pair to tie the game at 12. 

Warn's back-to-back goals put the Saints ahead 14-12 with 5:23 to play. Tuleja and junior Abaigeal Merrigan (Rye, N.H.) each scored in the final five minutes to close out the 16-12 victory for the home team.. 

Tuleja added four in the game, along with an assist. Lundwall and Warn each tallied two goals and an assist, while Merrigan had one each. Junior Emily Baker (Stratham, N.H.) also chipped in with two assists. Reiging GNAC Goalkeeper of the Week senior Lauren White (Lynnfield, Mass.) made 13 saves in the win.

Munnelly tallied a hat-trick for the visitors, while teammates McComb, Dooley, and Pino all picked up a pair of goals. Pechulis scored twice and dished out an assist and sophomore Taylor Yandow (Moretown, Vt.) shared the wealth with two assists as well. Junior Brooke Bergeron (Lynn, Mass.) took the loss in net for the Lasers.

The Lasers are idle until Thursday, April 14, when they host Saint Joe's Maine at 4:00 p.m., while the Saints host a Saturday GNAC contest with Norwich at 4:00 p.m. 

Recap Courtesy of Emmanuel College Sports Information