MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Saint Anselm
women's lacrosse team hosted the Falcons of Bentley University this
afternoon in a Northeast-10 Conference game. The score was
tied 4-4 at the half, but the Falcons dominated possession of the
ball in the second half, pulling ahead 13-9. The win lifts
the Falcons to 9-6 (6-3 NE-10), while the Hawks fall to 4-7 (2-6
NE-10). Sophomore Meghan Smith
(Pittsford, N.Y.) scored her 75th career goal in the
game.
Sophomore attacked Megan Wiggins got the ball
rolling just 34 seconds after the opening whistle with an
unassisted goal for the Falcons. At 26:21, shortly after
Katherine O'Hara
(Norwell, Mass.) saved a shot by Kelsie
Tidman, Wiggins knocked the ball out of O'Hara's stick and
went to take what looked to be an empty-net goal. However,
O'Hara dove across the net, to make her second of 15 saves in the
game and keep the Falcons from going ahead 2-0.
At 18:36, Kaleigh Hunt
(Sudbury, Mass.) put the Hawks on the board with a free
position shot. Shawna Walsh
(Woburn, Mass.) then gave the Hawks the lead at 12:58 with
an unassisted goal. However, Wiggins then scored two
back-to-back goals to regain the Falcons' lead, 3-2.
Cori Geiger put the Falcons up 4-2 at 6:22, but
Leigh
Krzyston (Bedford, N.H.) got the Hawks back within one
at 4:42.
With 23 seconds remaining in the first half, Shawna Walsh scored
her second goal of the game to tie the score at four heading into
halftime.
The Falcons dominated in the second half, seeming to have the
ball on their end for the entire period. They slowed down the
pace of the game, passing the ball countless times in Saint Anselm
territory before taking a shot. Whenever the Hawks would get
the ball, the Falcons' would quickly cause a turnover and get the
ball back.
Megan Wiggins broke the tie at 24:35 on a free position
shot. After O'Hara caused Maureen Fields to
turn the ball over, Olivia Bouchard won the ball
from her, and took an open-net shot to go up 6-4.
At 21:21, Meghan Smith converted a pass from Leigh Krzyston to
score her 75th career goal and cut the Hawks' deficit in
half. However, Taylor Bastien and Olivia
Bouchard scored twice more to take their biggest lead so far,
8-5.
The Hawks continued to fight back, scoring three goals in the
final five minutes of play, but in the end the Falcons came out on
top by a score of 13-9.
Megan Wiggins led both teams, scoring four of the Falcons' first
five goals in the game. Cori Geiger and Olivia Bouchard both
had three goals, and Geiger added an assist as well. Taylor
Bastien scored two more for the Falcons, and Margeaux
Guercia notched the final goal of the game.
Meghan Smith, Shawna Walsh, and Carrie Brophy
(Mansfield, Mass.) each had two goals in the game, and
Leigh Krzyston and Lauren Alfis
(Hanover, Mass.) both recorded a goal and an assist.
Kaleigh Hunt had the remaining goal for the Hawks.
Katherine O'Hara made 15 saves in today's game.
Julia Powell turned aside five shots in 51:53
minutes in the net, allowing the first six goals, and Kate
Poznick, who gave up the final three goals, did not make a
save in 8:07 minutes of relief.
The Hawks hit the road on Saturday, April 24, to take on the New
Haven Chargers. The Hawks must win on Saturday to stay in the
running for the sixth and final playoff spot which the Chargers
currently hold. The game will begin at 1:00 pm.
