COLCHESTER, Vt. – Sophomore Lauren Alfis (Hanover, Mass.) scored a career-high five goals to lead the Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team to a 13-12 victory against Saint Michael's College on Tuesday afternoon at Duffy Field.

The Hawks snap their five-game skid to improve to 2-7 on the season, including 2-5 in Northeast-10 play, while the Purple Knights fall to 2-9, 1-6 NE-10.

Alfis got the Hawks on the board first just 1:36 into the contest before junior Meghan Smith (Pittsford, N.Y.) scored three straight goals to give Saint Anselm a 4-0 lead 5:11 into the game.

Saint Michael's sliced its deficit in half before goals by junior Shawna Walsh (Woburn, Mass.) and Alfis made it 6-2. The Purple Knights made it a three-goal game when Walsh, Bryanna Hayes (Mansfield, Mass.) and Alfis opened it up to 9-3.

The Purple Knights answered two of the scores to slice it to four, but Smith scored with 2:17 remaining before the half, followed by Alfis with 1:28 on the clock, as the Hawks went into the break with an 11-5 advantage.

After Saint Michael's had once again cut it to four, Walsh scored at the 25:47 mark of the second half to make it 12-7. The Purple Knights then rattled off four straight goals to whittle their deficit down to one with 10:05 to play.

Alfis gave the Hawks an insurance goal to make it 13-11 with 5:04 remaining, and they would need it as Joan Colloton found the back of the net with 22 seconds on the clock to once again make it a one-goal game.

Alfis and Smith each recorded an assist.

Senior goalkeeper Katherine O'Hara (Norwell, Mass.) made four saves, while Saint Michael's goalkeeper Sandy Palumbo stopped 10 shots.

Saint Anselm outshot Saint Michael's, 33-20, including 19-9 in the opening half. The Hawks also held a 20-7 advantage in draw controls, including 14-3 in the first half.

The Hawks return to action Saturday, April 16 at 11 a.m. when they play host to Le Moyne College at Grappone Stadium.