Press Release

PIEKARSKI’S HEROICS LIFT PURPLE KNIGHTS TO COMEBACK WIN Junior scores seven goals as Saint Michael’s wins fourth straight contest FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                              FOR MORE INFORMATION April 10, 2004                                                                                    Contact: Seth Cole                                                                                                         Phone: (802) 654-2537 COLCHESTER, Vt. – Junior Lauren Piekarski (E. Sandwich, Mass./Tabor Academy) scored a career-high seven goals, including the final four of the contest, as Saint Michael’s College rallied from a three-goal deficit for a 10-9 win versus Merrimack College in Northeast-10 Conference women’s lacrosse action on Saturday at Doc Jacobs Field.              For the Purple Knights, freshman Megan Rule (Bow, N.H./Bow) added a pair of goals, including one off of a free position, while junior Kate Hallisey (W. Roxbury, Mass./Brookline) scored once. Junior Jess Anderson (Springfield, Vt./Springfield) turned aside seven shots as Saint Michael’s (6-4, 5-0 NE-10) won its fourth straight game and sixth in its last seven contests, and improved to 4-0 in one-goal decisions this season.            Junior Beth Arnold (Arlington, Mass.) paced the Warriors with four goals, while sophomore Alison Colarusso (No. Andover, Mass.) chipped in with three goals and an assist. Freshman Emily Sherlock (Cambridge, Mass.) recorded seven saves for Merrimack (3-4, 2-3), which saw its two-game winning streak come to an end.            The visitors appeared to seal the victory with three straight goals midway through the second half, as Arnold’s fourth goal of the contest gave Merrimack a 9-6 lead. Piekarski, however, refused to let the Purple Knights fall, as she tallied three unassisted goals in a two-minute span to even the score with 3:30 remaining.             Saint Michael’s won the ensuing draw control but failed on its next attempt. Merrimack had a prime opportunity to regain the lead with 1:45 to go, but Anderson’s helmet save off of a point-blank shot by Condon gave the hosts one final chance. Piekarski took advantage, as she found the back of the net with 37 seconds left for her third game-winning goal in the final minute of regulation this season. Merrimack returns to action on Monday versus Assumption College. Saint Michael’s plays its next three contests on the road, beginning with a game on April 17 at Southern Connecticut State University, before returning home to face league-rival and defending national champion Stonehill College on April 24 at 11 a.m. GAME SUMMARY Merrimack                     5          4          -9 Saint Michael’s              3          7          -10 Saint Michael’s scoring (goals-assists): Lauren Piekarski 7-0, Megan Rule 2-0, Kate Hallisey 1-0. Merrimack scoring (goals-assists): Beth Arnold 4-0, Alison Colarusso 3-1, Erin Black 1-1, Jen Strachan 1-0, Anne Rounce 0-2. Saves: SMC, Jess Anderson (seven saves); MER, Emily Sherlock (seven saves).  ###PURPLEKNIGHTS###

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