MANCHESTER, N.H. – Caitlin Villareal matched her career-high with seven goals to power the Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team to a 17-6 win over Northeast-10 foe Assumption on Wednesday evening at Grappone Stadium.
Box Score
Saint Anselm (7-7, 6-6 NE-10) gradually built a lead towards the end of the first half and scored 10 goals in the second to coast to the win. The win over Assumption (5-11, 2-10 NE-10) keeps the Hawks in contention for a NE-10 playoff berth. Saint Anselm is currently tied for sixth in the conference with Pace, a half game ahead of Stonehill (5-6) and one ahead of Franklin Pierce and American International, who are both 5-7.
Villareal's seven goals took her past the 50-goal mark for the season for the second time in three seasons. In addition to Villareal's big night, Erin Marshall tallied three goals and one assist and Marta Versprille and Katie McKenna each scored twice. Emma Palumbo scored once and set up two more, while Rachel Henderson notched a goal and an assist.
Villareal scored five of her seven goals in the first half, including three in a little less than 10 minutes as part of a four-goal run that put the Hawks up 4-1 near the midpoint of the first half. The Greyhounds replied with the game's next two goals but Villareal netted two more goals in the final six minutes of the half to give the hosts a 7-3 halftime lead.
After Assumption scored two of the first three goals of the second half to get within three, Saint Anselm rattled off eight-straight goals to build a substantial 16-5 advantage. Villareal, Marshall and McKenna each two goals during the run.
Sarah Reilly scored twice for the Greyhounds, while Molly Brown, Kailyn Hart, Meghan Cushing and Jen McDonald each netted one. McDonald also set up a goal for the visitors.
Versprille and Jessica Masse each grabbed three ground balls for Saint Anselm and Brown nabbed a game-high four for Assumption. The Hawks held a 17-9 advantage in ground balls in the game and outshot the Greyhounds 34-19. Assumption won 15-of-25 draw controls on the night.
Jane Bunn evened her record at 7-7 by making eight saves, while Jaclyn Chirco fell to 5-10 despite stopping 10 shots.
Saint Anselm wraps up the regular season by hosting top-ranked Adelphi on Saturday, April 30 at 11 a.m. when the Hawks will honor their 10 seniors on Senior Day at Grappone Stadium.
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