WALTHAM, Mass. – Philadelphia University got to within one goal in the second half on two occasions, but the Bentley University women's lacrosse team scored five of the last six goals in the final 8:25 to post a 15-10 win in the Falcons' season opener. Senior Alyssa Ritchie (North Andover, Mass./North Andover) had a game-high six points, with four goals and two assists.

Bentley led the entire game, leading by as much as five goals twice with leads of 7-2 in the first half and 9-4 in the second half.

After a goal by freshman Torre Taylor (Locust Valley, N.Y./Friends Academy) gave the Falcons their 9-4 lead with 21:43 left in the second half, the Lady Rams reeled off four unanswered goals in just over four minutes. Four different players for Philadelphia scored to cut their deficit to 9-8.

After a lengthy period of scoreless play, junior Erica de Silva (Dartmouth, Mass./Dartmouth) put Bentley up 10-8 with her first of three second half goals.

The Lady Rams answered back with a free-position goal by sophomore Danielle Coffaro with 8:41 left, but after that it was all Bentley.

Ritchie scored the next two goals, one on a free-position shot and the other off an assist from senior Kim Morris (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Saratoga Springs). Freshman Lauren Canepa (Hingham, Mass./Hingham) then gave the Falcons a comfortable four point lead at 13-9 with her goal with 5:02 remaining.

Taylor Peltzer scored for Philadelphia with 1:49 remaining to make it 13-10, but it wouldn't be enough as De Silva scored her second and third goals of the game in the final 1:16.

Canepa equaled Ritchie's game-high four goals in her Bentley debut. Morris had a team-high four assists. Goalie Christina Guglielmo (Fair Haven, NJ./Rumson-Fair Haven) was called on to make 10 saves and earned the win.

Bentley returns to the field on Thursday at No. 10 Belmont-Abbey at 3:00 p.m.

2009-03-08