Women’s Lacrosse Advances to ECAC Semifinals with 16-7 Victory over Colby-Sawyer

Framingham, Mass. –  The Framingham State University women's lacrosse team rattled off 11 straight goals in the first half en route to a 16-7 victory over Colby-Sawyer College this afternoon in the opening round of the 2012 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England Women's Lacrosse Championship Tournament at Maple Street Field. 

With the win, the Rams improve to 10-7 on the year and advance to face top seed Wheaton College (12-6) in one semifinal game on Saturday afternoon at noon, while the Chargers conclude their season at 8-9. Both semifinal games and the championship round of the tournament will be played at Wheaton College.

Sophomore goalie Rebecca Rixon (Stow, Mass.) was outstanding in the game between the pipes for the Rams making 13 saves and holding the Chargers to just one goal in the first half as the hosts built a ten goal advantage.

The Rams were led offensively by senior Kerry Kiley (Mansfield, Mass.) who tallied a game-best six goals which gives her 73 goals for the season.  Junior Heather Masse (Billerica, Mass.) followed with three goals, while sophomore Lauren Kent (Framingham, Mass.), junior Chelsea Temple (Rutland, VT) and freshman Ashley Holmes (East Sandwich, Mass.) tallied a pair of goals apiece.  Kent also chipped in with the Rams two assists in the game.

The Chargers were led by junior Laurel Bauer (Bradford, NH) who picked up four points in the game on two goals and two assists, while senior Brittney Murphy (Woburn, Mass.) added three on a pair of goals and a helper.  Senior Molly Prudden (Andover, Mass.), freshman Michelle Upham (Chelsea, VT) and classmate Alyssia Janak (Bourne, Mass.) tallied a goal apiece.

Colby-Sawyer took the early lead when Murphy scored her first of the game off a Bauer assists just 2:29 into the contest.  That would be the Chargers last lead as the Rams scored the game's next 12 goals, including 11 in the first half, to open a comfortable lead.  Kiley tied the game at 1-all with her first of the game at 26:15 and Kent put the Rams ahead for good with her unassisted tally at 20:08.

The Rams took an 11-1 lead into the half and extended it to 12-1 when Masse converted a free position opportunity 1:04 into the second.  Upham answered for the Chargers with a free position shot at 26:47 to end the visitor's scoring draught.

After a pair of Ram goals, the Chargers used a 4-0 run to cut the Rams lead to 14-6 with just over 11 minutes remaining in the game.  Bauer fueled the run with a pair of goals including a free position shot.

Kiley quickly ended the spurt by the Chargers with her sixth of the game with just over ten minutes remaining and each team added a goal late to reach the final margin of 16-7.

Freshman Jess Buckley (Shrewsbury, Mass.) picked up the loss in net for the Chargers making two saves in 27 minutes of work, while sophomore Adrienne Bender (Wakefield, RI) made four saves in 33 minutes of action.

The Rams held a slim 29-28 advantage in shots for the game, while the Chargers held a 24-23 edge in ground balls.