MANCHESTER, N.H. – The nationally-ranked Saint Anselm College women's lacrosse team defeated Franklin Pierce University, 17-14, in a Northeast-10 Conference Divisional Semifinals matchup on Monday.

In its first NE10 postseason appearance since 2018, Saint Anselm, the 21st-ranked team in the newest Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Division II Poll, improves to 8-2 on the season and advances to the next round. The Ravens end their 2021 season with a 7-3 overall record. 

The Hawks will now travel to top-seeded Bentley University on Thursday, May 6 for the NE10 Divisional Finals with a chance to head to the NE10 Championship game on Sunday, May 9.

With Monday's result, Saint Anselm has captured its second-ever victory in the NE10 postseason, previously defeating Bentley in 2014 by a 17-10 score before losing in a narrow fashion, 15-14, in the next round to New Haven.

The Hawks offense excelled in the postseason win, featuring a career-high six-goals from junior captain Jenna Balboni (Billerica, Mass.). Freshman Jess Sullivan (Wrentham, Mass.) had a part in the Hawks winning ways, posting four points (2-2=4) on two goals and two assists. Two other Hawks student-athletes captured hat tricks in the win, including sophomore Lexi Palmisano (Woburn, Mass.) and senior Kelsey Czarnota (Wakefield, Mass.).

Senior Annie Richards (Reading, Mass.) also recorded her 100th career point in the win. Sophomore Meghan Cotraro (Beverly, Mass.) had a team-high four ground balls with Czarnota winning seven draw controls. Junior goalkeeper Grace Young (Merrimack, N.H.) stopped seven shots in the contest, earning her eighth win of the season.

Balboni would get the Hawks started early in the game, netting three of the game's opening six goals to take a 5-1 lead 10 minutes into the contest. The Ravens changed the momentum later by mounting a 5-1 run to tie the game at six with 10 minutes remaining in the first half.

Five minutes later, junior Sheila Gadbois (Southborough, Mass.) began a short 3-0 stretch for the Hawks with a goal of her own, followed by scores from Balboni and Palmisano. With 3:16 remaining in the opening half, Saint Anselm had a 9-6 edge before Megyn Ayotte cut the first-half deficit to a two-goal margin at the 1:17 mark.

Ayotte's goal was the final tally of the opening 30 minutes as Saint Anselm held a 19-13 shots advantage and was successful on all 10 of its clearances. Despite trailing at the halftime break, Franklin Pierce earned nine of 17 draw controls in its attempt to keep the game close in the first half.

Palmisano increased the Hawks lead out of the break with two goals in the opening six minutes of the second period, giving the hosts a 12-7 lead. Both teams traded two tallies each in the next seven minutes, keeping the Hawks in the driver's seat with a 14-9 advantage.

Caroline Lounsburg of the Ravens scored back-to-back goals, shrinking the visitors' deficit to three goals with 15 minutes to go. Balboni responded with her final goal of the evening, putting home her sixth tally at 11:16 to up her team's lead to 15-11.

Ayotte answered with another goal of her own but the Hawks did not let the Ravens cut anymore into their lead as Czarnota helped the Hawks distance themselves with two goals. Ahead by a 17-12 margin with 3:34 left in the game, it was the largest lead of the day for Saint Anselm.

The Ravens attempted a comeback, scoring twice in the final minute, but the Hawks held on for the victory.