WESTON, Mass.- Regis College built a 5-3 lead at the half and held off a late Daniel Webster charge in the second half to take a 10-9 victory over the Eagles in a first ever matchup of future NECC foes Tuesday at Eagle Field. The victory gives the Pride an overall record of 6-3, while the Eagles drop to 3-4 on the season.
Grace Politis (Billerica, Mass.) led the Pride with a game–high six goals and six draw controls including the two key markers of the game, breaking an 8-8 tie with 8:27 remaining and adding the eventual game-winner with 6:48 left.
Natalie Bates (North Kingstown, R.I.) led the Eagles (3-4) with four goals and two assists.
Both teams are NCAA independents this season but will become NECC members next season when the conference begins sponsoring women's lacrosse as a championship sport.
Samantha Cotoni (Groton, Mass.) added three goals and a game-high six groundballs for the Eagles, while Kaylea Parkin (Red Hook, N.Y.) added two goals. Alexa Quintiliani (Manchester, Conn.) added a career-high five draw controls.
Regis led by as many as three twice in the second half including 7-4 after an Ellie Healy (South Burlington, Vt.) score with 22:19 remaining. The Eagles answered 46 seconds later with a goal from Cotoni to put the Eagles within two points of the lead. Three minutes later Bates buried a free position shot for a 7-6 game with 18:52 left.
Sashae Walls (Everett, Mass.) converted from the eight-yard line with 15:51 left but Bates followed a minute later to put the Eagles down by one. Parkin would tie it with a highlight-reel score 1:33 later, faking a free position and then diving back in between three defenders to tie it at eight.
Politis found her groove on offense notching two straight goals to give the Pride a 10-8 lead. Parking made things interesting for the Eagles as she scored at the 5:39 mark. DWC pressed but couldn't regain possession until fewer than 30 seconds remained as the Pride escaped with the victory.
The Eagles now embark on a four-game road trip beginning Thursday at Curry beginning at 6:00 p.m. Regis hosts Saint Joseph's (Me.) on Thursday at 4:00 p.m.