WESTON, Mass. – Junior Teresa Busiek (Arlington, Mass.) scored with 3:36 remaining in regulation to break a 11-11 deadlock, as the Regis College women's lacrosse team battled back from deficit to win a non-conference game against Emmanuel College on a sunny and windy Saturday afternoon. The Pride win their third straight to improve to 3-2 on the season, while the Saints drop their first contest of the season and fall to 3-1.
Busiek, Sam Salamone (Milford, Mass.), Grace Politis (Billerica, Mass.), and Lindsey Graver (Bellingham, Mass.) all scored in the double-figures for the Pride.
The Saints got off to a hot start by scoring the game's first three goals to jump out to an early lead by the 18:02 mark. Sarah Wootten (Berlin, Md.) assisted on Kristen Tuleja's (Mansfield, Mass.) game-opening goal as well as Alexia Basile's (West Hartford, Conn.), before Emily Baker (Stratham, N.H.) scored an unassisted tally to make the game 3-0.
The Pride regrouped and scored four unanswered goals to take their first lead of the day by the 6:27 mark. Busiek ran through the Saints' defense and scored on a bounce shot, followed by a goal by Graver, who curled from behind the net and capitalized with an open shot. Almost six minutes later, Salamone made a pass in front to Politis, who fired a quick shot to tie the game at three apiece. Salamone added an unassisted tally of her own after beating two defenders.
For the second time in the half, the Saints scored three consecutive goals, courtesy of Tuleja, Monica Burdick (Stonington, Conn.) and Sarah Higgins (Groveland, Mass.). All three goals came under a two minute span.
Salamone scored her second goal of the game with 42 seconds remaining in the half, as Emmanuel headed into the break with a narrow, 6-5 lead.
Busiek scored on a free position shot just over five minutes into the final stanza to tie the game at six apiece, while Tuleja responded with back-to-back goals to reclaim a two goal cushion for her team.
The Pride and Saints then traded two goals apiece, and the Saints held a 10-8 lead with 11:56 to play in regulation. Busiek had her third goal of the contest before Politis found Salamone for her third goal of the game, while Higgins and Wootten responded for their squad shortly after.
In a reverse situation, Salamone found Politis, who connected for a goal just nine seconds after Wootten's tally to cut the deficit to one goal. But thanks to a swing pass from Abaigeal Merrigan (Rye, N.H.), Madison Altwies (Southington, Conn.) was able to beat her defender and score for the visitors, as the score stood at 11-9.
The Crimson & Gold closed out the game with three unanswered goals in the final seven minutes of play and were able to withstand a late rally by the Saints to close out the game with a 12-11 win. Salamone cut the lead to one at the 7:34 mark before feeding Graver less than two minutes later for the game-tying goal. Busiek then scored the eventual game-winner on a free position shot, her fourth goal of the contest.
Salamone finished with a game-high four goals and three assists, while Politis and Graver each had two goals. Politis also had one assist in the win. Mary Roma (Portland, Maine) had a team-high six ground balls for Regis, who also got a 13 save performance from sophomore goalkeeper Emma Decker (Southborough, Mass.).
The Saints were paced by Tuleja's four goals and one assist, while Higgins came up with two goals, one assist, 11 ground balls, and five draw controls. Lauren White (Lynnfield, Mass.) had eight saves in the losing effort for Emmanuel, who returns to action on Tuesday, March 25 with a 7 p.m. game against Simmons.
The Pride will play host to Rivier on Monday at 6 p.m. for a non-conference game on the turf.