JWU SPOILS PRIDE OPENER, 10-8

WESTON, Mass. – Regis College nearly overcame a four goal second half deficit, but came up just short, as the Pride fell to Johnson and Wales University on Thursday night in non-conference women's lacrosse action in Weston, Mass. The Wildcats improve to 2-0 on the year, while Regis falls to 0-1.

The Pride jumped out to an early 2-0 lead to start the game as Grace Politis (Billerica, Mass.) scored on a rebound to open the scoring, and Teresa Busiek (Arlington, Mass.) followed nearly seven minutes later with a free position goal. JWU answered with four-straight goals to grab a 4-2 lead with 8:12 to play in the period. Kayla Smith (Eastham, Mass.) and Lydia Knapp (Glens Falls, N.Y.) scored on free position goals, while Gabrielle Vasile (Milford, Mass.) and Marissa Hart (Cohoes, N.Y.) added the other tallies for the Wildcats.

Busiek made it a one goal game after receiving a pass from Politis and cut through the Wildcats defense for her second goal of the contest. Politis knotted the game at 4-4 on a free position goal with 3:42 to play, but JWU took a 5-4 advantage into the half as Hart scored on a nifty pass on the goal line from Knapp with 1:23 to play.

Elizabeth Tonn (Wantagh, N.Y.) scored the opening goal of the second half for Johnson and Wales as she controlled a throw following a JWU yellow card, and took the ball all the way to the front of the net and past the keeper to make it a 6-4 game. Politis answered with another free position goal nearly two minutes later to keep Regis within one, but Hart made it a hat trick with a free position goal of her own to keep JWU on top by two.

At the 23:50 mark, Teresa Busiek worked her way in front of the Johnson and Wales goal and fired a jump shot that found the back of the net, but the senior was called for a charge and the goal was taken off the board. JWU took advantage, scoring the next two goals to jump out to a 9-5 lead with 17:21 to play in the game. Tonn scored on a great pass from Anna Oshiro (Gloucester, Mass.) on a free position attempt, while Knapp potted her second tally of the game on a feed from Hart.

Politis started the comeback for Regis with an unassisted goal, but not before Oshiro entered the scoring column with the Wildcats' 10th goal of the game. Sam Salamone (Milford, Mass.) beat her defender 1-on-1 for an open shot on net to cut the deficit to 10-7, and Busiek's third goal of the game made it a 10-8 game headed into the final five minutes of action.

Sierra Luce (Hartford, Vt.) had a chance to make it a one goal game for Regis as she circled around from behind and fired on net, but Genevieve Giampietro (Meriden, Conn.) was there for the stop. Salamone forced a turnover on the ensuing clear attempt and was awarded a free position shot, but Giampietro was there again for the save with 2:24 to play. This time the Wildcats maintained possession and ran out the clock for the 10-8 victory.

The Wildcats held a 24-16 advantage in shots for the game and won 13 draw controls to just seven for the Pride. Regis scooped up 26 groundballs, compared to 25 for JWU, but the Pride lost the turnover battle, 27-25.

Regis keeper Emma Decker (Southborough, Mass.) suffered the setback while making nine saves. Giampietro finished with six saves in her second win of the year.

Politis ended the day with five points on four goals and an assist and added six groundballs and a pair of draw controls. Busiek added three goals, two groundballs, and two caused turnovers. Sam Salamone, Becka Sarson (York, Maine), and Rachel Gagnon (Ashford, Conn.) each had four groundballs. Mary Roma (Portland, Maine) led the defense with three caused turnovers.

Marissa Hart scored three goals and added an assist to go with four groundballs, two draw controls, and two caused turnovers to lead JWU. Lydia Knapp (2 goals, 1 assist) and Anna Oshiro (1 goal, 2 assists) each had three point days for the Wildcats. Gabrielle Vasile led JWU with three draw controls, while Kapp and Mary Kate Bowe (Mount Laurel, N.J.) led the defense with three caused turnovers apiece.

The Crimson and Gold return to action on Saturday afternoon when they open New England Collegiate Conference play with a 12:30 p.m. game against Southern Vermont College. Johnson and Wales hosts Emmanuel College at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday as well.