NO LUCK ABOUT IT - PRIDE TAKE DOWN BEAVERS, 12-11 IN ST. PATRICK'S DAY SHOWDOWN

NO LUCK ABOUT IT - PRIDE TAKE DOWN BEAVERS, 12-11 IN ST. PATRICK'S DAY SHOWDOWN

WESTON, Mass. – Freshman midfielder Samantha Salamone (Milford, Mass.) scored the go-ahead goal with 2:50 remaining in regulation, and the Regis College women's lacrosse team was able to hold on for a 12-11 win over University of Maine-Farmington on Sunday afternoon.

Salamone and sophomore attacker Grace Politis (Billerica, Mass.) scored four goals apiece to lead the Pride, who improve to 3-2 on the season with the victory. The Beavers, who fall to 1-2 on the year, were led by Maddi Kadnar (Oakland, Maine) and Mara Balboni (Oakland, Maine), who combined for ten points on the day.

After a Lyndsey Grundy (Haverhill, Mass.) goal put the visitors ahead early, Politis set up Andrea Barbosa (Taunton, Mass.) with a pass on the goal line, and she was able to beat goalkeeper Hannah Goodenow (Freeport, Maine) one-on-one to tie things up, 1-1.

After trading goals throughout the first half, the Pride found themselves down 5-3 after Balboni scored her second goal of the day in a play that saw the freshman midfielder make a spin move in the box after a restart and beat goalkeeper Emma Decker (Southborough, Mass.) top shelf.

Politis' second goal of the half cut the deficit to one goal, and Katie Haidemenos (Warwick, R.I.) tied it up again, 5-5 less than two minutes later. Haidemenos received a beautiful pass in front on a fast break by Krysten Sheppard (Medford Mass.) and took a bounce shot that found its way into the back of the net.

Balboni was able to strike again with just over a minute remaining in the half, and Farmington entered halftime with a slight 6-5 edge.

After the break, Salamone scored unassisted and Politis scored on a free position shot for back-to-back goals, as the Pride took their first lead of the day, 7-6. The Beavers responded with back-to-back goals of their own to retake the lead after Ayla Allen (Rumford, Maine) scored on a free position shot and Kadnar collected and finished a Balboni pass at the 21:26 mark.

Over the next eight minutes, the Crimson & Gold would go on to score three more goals, coming from Salamone, sophomore Sashae Walls (Everett, Mass.), and Politis, for their largest lead of the game, 10-8. But once again, the Beavers were able to respond with goals from Allen and Molly Carbin (Scarborough, Maine) to even things up, 10-10.

Salamone and Grundy each scored for her third time of the day for the game's next two goals, and both teams found themselves tied 11-11 with just under four minutes remaining in regulation.

After receiving a screen from Politis, Salamone was able to score on a one-on-one play with 2:50 left, which proved to be the eventual game-winner. Decker, who finished with 19 saves, made perhaps her biggest of the day when she stopped a free position shot with under two minutes to preserve the lead.

Salamone also finished with five draw controls and a game-high 10 ground balls to go along with her four goals and two assists, while Goodenow registered 13 saves, and Allen and Emma Daniel (Acton, Mass.) scooped up eight ground balls each for the Beavers.

Both teams will be in action again this Wednesday, March 20, as the Beavers travel to Southern Maine for a 4:00 p.m. game and the Pride host Sage at 7:00 p.m.