Hawks Celebrate Senior Day In Style, 12-11
Saint Anselm Tops Merrimack, Remains Hopeful For Tournament

Manchester, N.H. (April 23, 2003)-The Saint Anselm women's lacrosse program was faced with a must-win situation on Senior Day against Merrimack in a Northeast-10 game Wednesday afternoon at Grappone Stadium, and the Hawks did just that-in nail-biting fashion-by a final count of 12-11.

Saint Anselm kept hope alive for a bit to the upcoming NE-10 tournament by raising its record to 3-8 on the season and 2-5 in league play following the team's second consecutive victory. Merrimack dropped to 3-9 for the year and 1-6 against NE-10 opponents with the loss, eliminating the Warriors from having any shot at the postseason.

Following a two-goal outburst from Merrimack in the initial three minutes of the game, the Saint Anselm defense quickly found its feet and buckled down allowing the offense to go to work. Freshman Jillian Colonese (Guilford, Conn./ Guilford) put the hosts on top for the first time, 3-2, with six minutes remaining until the intermission, but another Warriors' goal at 5:24 from sophomore Kate Condon (Columbia, Md.) would knot the affair at 3-3 before the teams reached the midpoint.

The teams traded goals for much of the second half until with 2:51 remaining, senior Katelynn O'Connell (Sandwich, Mass./ Sandwich) netted her third score of the afternoon to put the Hawks up 12-8. With less than two minutes left, and Saint Anselm nursing a four goal lead, the Warriors stormed back with three unanswered free position goals from 1:48 to 1:08 to close the gap to a single point at 12-11, but a final free position chance sailed just wide with two seconds left to give the Hawks the win.

Condon led the Warriors offensively with three goals on the day, and goaltender Andrea Johnston (Holden, Mass.) made six saves in the losing effort.

Saint Anselm was led by three goals from Colonese and a hat trick plus two assists from O'Connell while the defense was anchored by seven saves from junior goaltender Karen Spellman (Woburn, Mass./ Arlington Catholic) who earned her third victory of the season.

The Hawks must now travel to Worcester, Mass. on Saturday to take on Assumption in a game scheduled for 1:00 PM.

Score By Period 1 2 OT F
Merrimack 3 8 - 11
Saint Anselm 3 9 - 12