Press Release

BRYANT BESTS PURPLE KNIGHT WOMEN IN OT, CLINCHES NO. 2 SEED FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                              FOR MORE INFORMATION April 25, 2004                                                                                    Contact: Seth Cole                                                                                                         Phone: (802) 654-2537 COLCHESTER, Vt. – Sophomore Marisa Lawrence (Falmouth, Mass.) scored with 14 seconds left in the first overtime as Bryant College edged Saint Michael’s College, 10-9, in women’s lacrosse action on Sunday at Doc Jacobs Field. The win clinched the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the upcoming Northeast-10 Conference playoffs for Bryant (11-5, 9-1 NE-10), while Saint Michael’s (8-7, 7-3) enters the postseason as the third seed, and will host a quarterfinal contest on Wednesday at 3 p.m. versus an opponent yet to be determined. For the Bulldogs, freshman Shaun Leddy (Sea Girt, N.J.) tallied a game-high four goals and one assist, while classmate Lisa Nichols (Danvers, Mass.) notched three goals. Sophomore Samantha Libby (Penacook, N.H.) turned aside nine shots in goal for Bryant. Freshman Megan Lagasse (Newburyport, Mass./Governor Dummer Academy) paced a balanced Purple Knights’ offense with two goals and an assist, while junior Lauren Piekarski (E. Sandwich, Mass./Tabor Academy) and freshman Kendra LaFauci (No. Andover, Mass./North Andover) added two goals apiece. Junior Jess Anderson (Springfield, Vt./Springfield) turned aside 13 shots for Saint Michael’s, which honored senior Jen Thygesen (Barre, Vt./Spaulding) prior to the game for playing in her final regular season home contest. Neither team led by more than one goal in a see-saw battle that featured nine ties and four lead changes. Nichols scored the final two goals of a defensive first half to give the visitors a 4-3 lead at intermission. Saint Michael’s regained a one-goal lead early in the second stanza, as Lagasse and Rule recorded unassisted goals. The Purple Knights would not trail again until Lawrence’s score late in the first overtime, and the hosts could not manage a shot on goal in the second extra session. A Purple Knights’ win in the quarterfinals on Wednesday sets up a semifinal rematch with Bryant on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The NE-10 Semifinals and Championship will be hosted by top-seed Stonehill College. GAME SUMMARY Bryant                           4          5          1          0          -10 Saint Michael’s              3          6          0          0          -9 Saint Michael’s scoring (goals-assists): Megan Lagasse 2-1, Kendra LaFauci 2-0, Lauren Piekarski 2-0, Kristen Palazzo 1-1, Megan Rule 1-0, Noreen Russo 1-0, Noel Smith 0-1. Bryant scoring (goals-assists): Shaun Leddy 4-1, Lisa Nichols 3-0, Marisa Lawrence 1-1, Maureen Burns 1-0, Melissa Talamini 1-0. Saves: SMC, Jess Anderson (13 saves); BRY, Samantha Libby (nine saves).  ###PURPLEKNIGHTS###

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Last Revised: October 25, 2002