Big Second Half Lifts Women's Lacrosse Over Rivier

WESTON, Mass. - Sophomore Brooke Ross (Hanover, Mass.) netted a hat trick to lead the Regis (Mass.) women's lacrosse team to an 8-5 win over Rivier University on Tuesday evening in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action at Regis Stadium.

With the win, the Pride improves to 11-3 on the season, including 6-2 in GNAC play. The Raiders see their three game winning streak come to a close, falling to 3-8, 3-5 in the GNAC.

The first half was a chess match between the Pride and the Raiders, with both defenses controlling the play. Rivier's Amanda Barton (Pelham, N.H.) opened the game's scoring at the 24:38 mark off a feed from Ashley Leal (Tyngsboro, Mass.), but the Pride had a quick answer. Senior Linsay Bumila (Raynham, Mass.) scored just 48 seconds after Barton's tally to level the score at 1-1. Regis took its first lead on the evening at the 20:49 mark with Ross' first tally of the game, but Barton would answer with her second just over two minutes later to tie the score at 2-2. Neither team could find the back of the net in the final 18:42 of the half, as the teams would go to the break level.

A 4-0 Pride run in the opening 6:06 of the second half helped the Pride take control of the ballgame. Junior Emily Kosak (Milton, Mass.) opened the scoring in the half with her 13th goal of the season at the 28:52 mark, and sophomore Kerri Anselmo (Natick, Mass.) put Regis on top by two at 4-2 three minutes later. The run was closed out by back-to-back free position goals by junior Malorie Kiehl (Burlington, Mass.) just 55 seconds apart to put the Pride on top 6-2. Rivier would keep the score close on goals from Marin Owens (Brookline, N.H.), Leal, and Stephanie Whalen (Litchfield, N.H.) down the stretch, but the goals sandwiched a pair of tallies by Ross that kept the Raiders from being able to level the score before the game's final horn.

Pride senior goalkeeper Maresa Malcolm (Barrington, N.J.) picked up her ninth win of the season in net, making five saves. Courtney Laperriere (Keene, N.H.) got the loss for the Raiders despite an impressive 13 save effort. 

Next up for the Pride, they'll look to move their winning streak to seven in a road matchup against Simmons College on Saturday. Rivier will look to return to the win column the same day in its regular season finale at home against Saint Joseph's (Me.).

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