MANCHESTER, N.H. – Alyssa Ritchie totaled five goals and two assists to lead Bentley University to an 11-8 Northeast-10 women's lacrosse win over Southern New Hampshire University at Larkin Field Wednesday afternoon. The Falcons improved to 7-6 overall and 5-1 in the NE-10, while the Penmen saw a five-game win streak snapped and are now 9-4 and 6-2 in the league.

Leigh Tedesci scored twice for Bentley, while Jaclyn Griffin finished with a goal and an assist. Maura Murphy (Candia, NH) led Southern New Hampshire with two goals and an assist, while Laura Rotolo (Waltham, MA) finished with a pair of goals. Sherry Darrell (Bow, NH) registered a goal and two assists while Emily Mongeau (Westborough, MA) had a goal and an assist. Julie Kraus (Derry, NH) and Jennifer Parro (Ipswich, MA) each had single goals.

SNHU scored three straight goals early to take a 4-1 lead 11:44 into the game on a goal by Parro. Bentley would hold the Penmen scoreless and the Falcons reeled off five unanswered goals to take a 6-4 lead into halftime. Erica da Silva would score 1:53 before the break to complete the Falcon run.

Murphy scored the first goal of the second half just over four minutes in to cut the guests' lead in half, but Bentley scored the game's next three goals to take a 9-5 lead with just under 19 minutes to play, including two goals in a span of 18 seconds. Southern New Hampshire would score the next three goals to pull within one, 9-8, with 10:32 to go on a Murphy tally, but Bentley would control the next draw and score 1:16 later. BU scored its final goal with 5:53 on the clock.

Christina Guglielmo turned aside 12 shots for Bentley en route to the win as the Falcons generated a 25-24 shot advantage. Katie Clark (Norwich, CT) made seven saves for Southern New Hampshire. Bentley controlled possession by winning 14 of 21 draw controls on the afternoon.

SNHU returns to action Saturday when it travels to American International College for a 12:00 contest.

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MANCHESTER, N.H. – Senior Alyssa Ritchie (North Andover, Mass./North Andover) recorded a game-high seven points on five goals and two assists and junior goalkeeper Christina Guglielmo (Fair Haven, N.J./Rumson-Fair Haven) made 12 saves as Bentley University won its third straight game, 11-8 over Southern New Hampshire on Wednesday afternoon.

The Falcons now improve to 7-6 overall and 5-1 in the NE-10. They'll move ahead of the Penmen for second place in the conference; Southern New Hampshire came into the game percentage points ahead of both Bentley and New Haven.

Bentley fell behind 4-1 after the first 12 minutes, but Ritchie almost single-handily brought the Falcons level, scoring three straight goals unassisted in the span of four minutes.

Almost 10 minutes elapsed before another goal was scored, but the next one went Bentley's way courtesy of junior Michelle LaRosa (Manhasset, N.Y./Manhasset) on a free-position shot. Junior Erica de Silva (Dartmouth, Mass./Dartmouth) gave Bentley a 6-4 lead 1:53 before halftime.

After Southern New Hampshire scored the first goal of the second half, Bentley reeled off three straight to take a 9-5 lead with 18:49 to play. Junior Jaclyn Griffin (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) found the back of the net first, followed by sophomore Leigh Tedeschi (Duxbury, Mass./Duxbury), then a free-position shot by Ritchie.

The Penmen wouldn't go quietly though as they scored three straight, the last one by Maura Murphy, to make the score 9-8 with 10:32 left. Less than a minute after Murphy's goal though, Tedeschi scored for the second time, and freshman Torre Taylor (Locust Valley, N.Y./Friends Academy) scored the final goal of the game with 5:53 left.

Guglielmo helped preserve the lead by making two saves after Murphy's goal.

With seven more points added to her career total, Ritchie is now just four away from reaching 300.

Bentley is back in action Thursday afternoon when they travel to AIC. Game time is 5:00 p.m.

2009-04-15