Press Release

PIEKARSKI’S LATE GOAL LIFTS PURPLE KNIGHT WOMEN PAST BENTLEY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                              FOR MORE INFORMATION April 3, 2004                                                                                      Contact: Seth Cole                                                                                                         Phone: (802) 654-2537 COLCHESTER, Vt. – Junior Lauren Piekarski (E. Sandwich, Mass./Tabor Academy) tallied her second game-winning goal in a week as Saint Michael’s College edged Northeast-10 Conference rival Bentley College, 9-8, in women’s lacrosse action on Saturday at Doc Jacobs Field. Piekarski, who bested Assumption College on March 27 with a goal with 29 seconds remaining, snapped an 8-all tie against the Falcons with an unassisted tally with 24 seconds left in regulation. Piekarski has netted 15 goals in the past three games for the Purple Knights. Sophomore Kristen Palazzo (Armonk, N.Y./Byram Hills) added a pair of goals for Saint Michael’s (3-4, 2-0 NE-10), while junior Jess Anderson (Springfield, Vt./Springfield) stopped nine shots. Freshmen Kendra LaFauci (No. Andover, Mass./No. Andover) and Megan Rule (Bow, N.H./Bow) also scored for the Purple Knights. For the Falcons, sophomore Stephanie Droney (Beverly, Mass.) notched three goals, while junior Shandra Bacher (Concord, N.H.) notched a goal and four assists. Sophomore Lisa Cavallo (Hopkinton, Mass.) turned aside 11 shots for Bentley (2-2, 2-2). Saint Michael’s opened the game strong, scoring five goals in the first 21 minutes to earn a 5-2 lead. The Falcons cut their deficit late in the opening stanza, scoring twice in the final 4:21 to make the score 5-4 at intermission. In the second half, the Falcons pulled even on three occasions, the final time on freshman Kellyn Riccitelli’s (Cheshire, Conn.) goal with 51 seconds left in regulation. It appeared the game would head to overtime, but Piekarski’s third goal of the half, and second goal in the final 4:22, gave the Purple Knights the lead for good.    Saint Michael’s plays its next two games on the road, beginning with Monday’s 4 p.m. contest at Saint Anselm College, before playing its next home game on April 10 against Merrimack College at 1 p.m.   GAME SUMMARY Bentley                         4          4          -8 Saint Michael’s              5          4          -9 Saint Michael’s scoring (goals-assists): Lauren Piekarski 5-1, Kristen Palazzo 2-0, Kendra LaFauci 1-0, Megan Rule 1-0, Kate Hallisey 0-1, Noreen Russo 0-1, Noel Smith 0-1. Bentley scoring (goals-assists): Stephanie Droney 3-1, Shandra Bacher 1-4, Kellyn Riccitelli 1-1, Kathryn Van Horne 1-1, Kelley Brocato 1-0, Elizabeth Maloney 1-0, Kathryn Karr 0-1. Saves: SMC, Jess Anderson (nine saves); BEN, Lisa Cavallo (11 saves). ###PURPLEKNIGHTS###

For more information please contact the SMC Sports Information Office at (802) 654-2537
Last Revised: October 25, 2002