Box Score

BRISTOL, R.I. – RWU senior Annie Alvord (Yorktown, N.Y.) scored the game-winning goal at 13:35 of the second half Tuesday, lifting the Women's Lacrosse Team to an 8-7 victory over visiting Western New England College. The win secures a second-place finish in The Commonwealth Coast Conference for RWU with a 9-2 record, while WNEC finishes fourth at 8-3.

Down 7-5 at halftime, Western New England College held RWU scoreless for the first 16:25 of the second half while senior Lindsey Fenton (Pelham, Mass.) and sophomore Katie Toomy (Northborough, Mass.) scored back-to-back goals at 21:17 and 20:44 to tie the game at 7-7.

Alvord's game-winner came on an assist from sophomore Danica Delia (Norwalk, Conn.) who finished with one goal and one assist. RWU senior Kasey Beckwith (Franklin, Conn.) won the ensuing draw control and RWU proceeded to hold possession for nearly five minutes as heavy rain and cold wind picked-up across Bayside Field.

WNEC regained possession at 6:31 when Nicole Poli (Medfield, Mass.) caused a turnover and gathered the ground ball, leading to a timeout for the Golden Bears to set-up their offense. Strong defense by RWU forced a turnover less than a minute later, but both teams struggled to maintain a solid offensive possession through the final five minutes of regulation.

The Golden Bears threatened in the final minute, but an offensive charge called with 42 seconds remaining gave RWU the ball, which it held onto until the final horn.

The low-scoring second half was in contrast to a fast-paced 7-5 first half, kicked off with a goal by Delia assisted by RWU teammate Claire Halliday (Trenton, N.J.) just 10 seconds into the contest. Fenton and Toomy responded with back-to-back goals just 36 second apart to put the Golden Bears ahead 2-1 at 27:16.

RWU began a four-goal streak 15 seconds later with back-to-back goals by Alden, followed by a tally by Beckwith and another by Alvord to give RWU the 5-2 lead at 17:34. At 17:06 WNEC junior Jeanmarie Barbato (Huntington Station, N.Y.) took a feed from Toomy and at 15:14 Toomy found the back of the net again pulling WNEC to within one.

Halliday scored back-to-back goals before WNEC sophomore Liz McRoberts (Bourne, Mass.) scored at 1:28, sending the teams into the break, 7-5.

Hawks senior goalkeeper Amanda Magee (Columbus, N.J.) made 10 saves in net, while WNEC junior goalkeeper Marissa Bonitatibus (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) registered five.  

RWU finishes the regular season with a 12-4 record overall, while WNEC finishes at 10-7. As the second seed in the TCCC playoffs, the Hawks host seventh-seeded Colby-Sawyer College, Saturday, at a time yet to be determined. RWU defeated the Chargers 14-4 in the previous match-up, April 10.

The Golden Bears host Curry College Saturday, a team they defeated 15-10, March 24.