LEICESTER, MA – Saint Joseph’s (5-0-1) maintained its undefeated season with a 22-14 victory over Becker College (1-4) in a non-conference women's lacrosse contest on Sunday afternoon. Lauren Hagerman ’10 (Scarborough, ME) led the Monks with eight goals, two assists and seven draw controls and SJC keeper Taylor Allison ’12 (Pawtucket, RI) made 15 saves in the high-scoring affair.
Hagerman’s final goal of the game, scored at the 25:41 mark of the second half, was the 100th of her outstanding career. The senior midfielder joins Alyssa Marchant ’11 (Wakefield, MA), who reached the century mark against Thomas on March 18th, in the Monks’ 100-goal club.
The first half was packed with scoring and high drama, as neither team managed to attain a lead of more than two goals. Amelia Santos ’12 (Beverly, MA) put the Monks on the board just 29 seconds into the game, but Becker attacker Nicole Lijana ’12 (Moorestown, NJ) put the hosts ahead with two goals in the next four minutes and Morgan Hazen ’12 (Woodstock, VT) made it a two-score contest with a tally at the 24:26 mark.
The Hawks’ advantage wouldn’t last long, as St. Joe’s proceeded to net three goals, two from Hagerman and another from Marchant, over the next six minutes to go ahead by a 4-3 score. Lijana scored 17 seconds later to tie the game at four apiece, but Becker would not taste even a share of the lead again, as Hagerman and Erika Waterhouse ’13 (South Portland, ME) responded with goals and the teams traded tallies for the remainder of the half and the Monks headed into halftime with a 10-8 cushion.
Saint Joseph’s came out of the gates in the second stanza by scoring five straight goals, with Marchant scoring the first two and Hagerman producing three in a row, including her 100th tally, to put the visitors up 15-8.
Brooke Cote ’13 (Fitchburg, MA) and Hazen scored for the Hawks to make it a 15-10 contest, but Santos, Emily Wight ’13 (Westbrook, ME) and Megan Cutter ’12 (Westbrook, ME) all found the back of the net over a four-minute span for the Royal Blue to provide the visitors with a comfortable 18-10 advantage.
In the final 14 minutes, Jade Thyng ’13 (North Berwick, ME) scored twice and Jaimee Brett ’10 (Otisfield, ME) and Nicole Adam ’13 (Newfields, NH) both notched tallies to offset two-goal efforts by Lijana and Hazen and make the final score 22-14, Monks.
Becker goalie Lindsay Peluso (Dudley, MA) made 12 stops in the losing effort.
St. Joe’s will host GNAC opponent Norwich University on Friday at 4:00 PM, while Becker will play at St. Joseph (CT) on Wednesday at 4:30 PM.
