PHOTO CREDIT: Chris Theodores '25
NASHUA, N.H. – Saint Joseph's College (13-4, 9-2 GNAC) defeated Rivier University (8-6, 5-5 GNAC), 16-8, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) North Division women's lacrosse action on Tuesday night. The contest was the 2024 regular season finale for both teams.
PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS:
With the victory, Saint Joseph's earns the #2 seed in the North Division and will host the South Division's #3 seed, Regis College, in a GNAC Tournament quarterfinal on Saturday, April 27th.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Raiders held a 1-0 lead after Caitlin Newell scored with six minutes left in the first quarter, but the Monks rattled off four-consecutive tallies – including a pair from freshman Taylor Dumond (Minisink, N.Y.) – to claim a 4-1 advantage with 7:58 remaining in the second stanza.
Alysha Hok interrupted the Monks' scoring string with a man-down marker just over a minute later, but St. Joe's netted four straight – with two from first-year Dina Wadleigh (Augusta, Maine) – to close out the first half with an 8-2 cushion.
Only two goals were scored in the third quarter, as senior Bridget Collins (Milford, Conn.) and Rivier's Ashley Wilder hit pay dirt to make it a 9-3 game in favor of the Monks going into the final frame.
The teams made up for the low scoring penultimate period with 12 goals in the fourth as Collins led the offensive barrage by netting three of the Monks' seven tallies and Sarah Lachance potted three of the Raiders' five markers.
TEAM STATS:
Saint Joseph's held the lead in shots (33-21), shots on goal (25-12), ground balls (26-21), and draw controls (21-7) while Rivier posted a 6-5 edge in caused turnovers.
THE KEEPERS:
SJC sophomore starter Alexis Eldridge (Effingham, N.H.) allowed two goals and made one save in the first half to pick up the victory while freshman Julia Price (Newbury, Mass.) added two saves with two goals allowed in 20:42 and junior Morgan Wright (Chelmsford, Mass.) gave up four goals with one save in 9:18 in the cage.
Rivier netminder Lindsey Kruger made nine saves in a complete game effort.
LEADERS – SAINT JOSEPH'S:
- Sophomore Celia Melanson (Waterford, Maine) tallied two goals, six assists, four ground balls, and three draw controls
- Collins added four goals and three assists with two ground balls
- Senior Carson Battaglia (Gorham, Maine) produced two goals, two assists, six ground balls, 17 draw controls, and a caused turnover
- Junior Mackenzie Siebert (Naples, Maine) chipped in with two goals, two assists, and two ground balls
- Dumond added three goals on five shots
- Wadleigh scored twice with two ground balls
LEADERS – RIVIER:
- Lachance netted three goals with two assists and four draw controls
- Wilder scored two goals with an assist and four ground balls
- Newell scored two goals with an assist and two draw controls
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:
With the win Saint Joseph's improves to 12-2 all-time versus Rivier University and has now defeated the Raiders in 11-consecutive meetings.
