Pilgrims sail to 17-7 conference win over AMCATS

PAXTON, Mass. (04.06.11) – The New England College women's lacrosse team received goals from 10 different players en route to a 17-7 victory over Anna Maria College during a The Commonwealth Coast Conference matchup at AMCAT Field on Wednesday afternoon. The win snaps a four-game losing skid for the Pilgrims, who now improve to 3-6 (2-4 TCCC), while the AMCATS drop to 1-10 (0-7 TCCC) with the loss.

Freshman Eleni Hatsis (Norwalk, Conn.) led all players with four points and four goals to pace the Pilgrims, while senior Diana Lynas (Rowley, Mass.), junior Chantale Lacroix (Manchester, N.H.), and sophomore Sarah Merrill (Dover, N.H.) each contributed three points on two goals and one assist. In addition to her three points, Lacroix also contributed five ground balls, a team-high five draw controls, and a game-best four caused turnovers in a nice all-around performance. Junior Caroline Doherty (Miller Place, N.Y.) earned the win in net for the Pilgrims, making three saves during one half of play.

Junior Katie Schebel (Ludlow, Mass.) scored three goals for the AMCATS while also grabbing a game-high seven draw controls on the afternoon. Fellow junior Amanda Hevy (North Brookfield, Mass.) added three goals of her own, while senior Sarah Moore (Holden, Mass.) led all players with seven ground balls in addition to causing a team-best three turnovers. Senior Mackenzie Coakley (Millbury, Mass.) added the only other AMC goal, while freshman Fabienne Jules (Leominster, Mass) made 10 saves in net for the AMCATS.

The Pilgrims jumped on the board after just 40 seconds of play, as junior Sam Aucoin (Henniker, N.H.) scored on a free position shot to give NEC an early 1-0 lead.

Junior Amanda Naime (York, Maine) added an unassisted tally just one minute later, as the Pilgrims jumped out to a 2-0 advantage.

Coakley answered back with the AMCATS first goal of the game before the Pilgrims responded with a 4-0 run to go ahead by the score of 6-1.

Schebel broke up the NEC run with an unassisted goal to cut the lead to 6-2, however, the Pilgrims immediately replied with three unanswered scores, receiving goals from Hatsis, Amanda Kennedy (Tewksbury, Mass.), and Lacroix to open a 9-2 lead.

Hevy added an unassisted tally for AMC with just a minute and a half left in the period, sending the two teams into the break with NEC leading 9-3.

The Pilgrims came out of halftime to score the opening four goals of the second period, essentially icing the game by taking a 13-3 lead.

From there, the two teams traded goals for the remainder of the period, as the Pilgrims sealed the 17-7 victory.

The Pilgrims return to the field on Thursday when they host Smith at 6:00 pm, while the AMCATS don't return to action until Saturday, hosting the University of New England in a TCCC matchup starting at noon.

Photo Courtesy of David Sheridan for AMC Sports Information