SPRINGFIELD, MASS. – The Saint Anselm women's lacrosse team travelled to Springfield, Mass., this afternoon to take on the Yellow Jackets of American International College in a Northeast-10 Conference matchup.  The Hawks rallied to overcome an early five-goal deficit, defeating the Yellow Jackets by a final score of 16-12.  The win lifts the Hawks to 4-4 (2-3 NE-10), while the Yellow Jackets drop to 7-3 (2-3 NE-10).

Bridget Szawlowski of the Yellow Jackets struck first just 45 seconds after the opening whistle, converting a pass from Courtney Szawlowski for the first goal of the game.  Just over a minute later, at 28:06, Emily Traicoff (Beverly, Mass.) tied the game at one with an unassisted goal.  Kara Kirkland regained the Yellow Jackets' lead at 26:50, but Traicoff then knocked in a second unassisted goal, tying the score 2-2.

At 18:05, Yellow Jacket midfielder Katie Warner scored the first of five unanswered goals for American International, giving the Yellow Jackets a 7-2 lead with eight minutes to go in the first half.  Meghan Smith (Pittsford, N.Y.) roped in a pass from Lauren Alfis (Hanover, Mass.) at 1:06, but the Hawks headed into the break trailing 7-3.

At the start of the second half, Shawna Walsh (Woburn, Mass.) scored her first goal of the game, and at 22:26, Meghan Smith set up Lauren Alfis for the Hawks' fifth goal to cut their deficit down to two.  However Courtney Szawlowski and Alex Hudyka responded quickly, putting the Yellow Jackets back up 9-5.

The Hawks, unwilling to give up, charged back midway through the second half, as Alfis, Smith, and Carrie Brophy (Mansfield, Mass.) scored consecutive goals to bring the Hawks within one.  Katie Warner made it 10-8, but Meghan Smith went on a three-goal tear to give the Hawks the lead for the first time in the game at 10:41.  The Hawks scored four more unanswered goals, completing a seven-goal run and taking a 15-11 lead with 3:39 left in regulation.  Kara Kirkland and Alex Hudyka got two back for the Yellow Jackets but Shawna Walsh chipped in one more for the Hawks, giving the Hawks a dramatic 16-12 comeback victory.

Meghan Smith led both teams with five goals and two assists for seven points in the game.  Emily Traicoff scored three goals for the Hawks, and Shawna Walsh and Carrie Brophy each knocked in two.  Courtney Szawlowski led the Yellow Jackets with a five-point day, notching three goals and two assists in the game.  Katie Warner had three goals and an assist, and Alex Hudyka notched two goals and an assist.  Gina Gallo made 17 saves for the Yellow Jackets, while Katherine O'Hara (Norwell, Mass.) turned aside nine shots.

The Hawks return home on Wednesday, April 14th, to kick off a three-game homestand by hosting Franklin Pierce University in a Northeast-10 game beginning at 4:00 pm.