WALTHAM, Mass. -- Sophomore Alyssa Ritchie (North Andover/North Andover HS) netted four goals and added two assists for the Falcons as the Bentley women's lacrosse team knocked off Saint Anselm, 12-9, on Saturday afternoon in Northeast-10 Conference action. The Falcons improved to 3-4 (3-1 NE-10) with the win, while the Hawks, ranked tenth in the nation, fell to 4-2 (1-1 NE-10).

After sophomore Kelsey Johnson (Byfield) put Saint Anselm on the board first with the first of her team-high four goals, Bentley responded with three straight goals and held on to the lead for the rest of the game. Senior Kellyn Riccitelli (Cheshire, Conn./Cheshire HS) scored first to tie the game at one before sophomore Kim Morris (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Saratoga Springs HS) put the Falcons in the lead. Freshman Jaclyn Griffin (Barrington, Ill./Barrington HS) added a goal as well and has now scored in her first seven collegiate games. Ritchie scored twice in a 4-0 run in the middle of the first half to help Bentley to an 8-5 halftime lead.

The Hawks came back within two goals when junior Beth Millian (Arlington) and Johnson scored back-to-back goals to make it 9-7 halfway through the second half, but Ritchie responded with the eventual game-winner and the Falcons held off Saint Anselm for the rest of the contest.

Junior Liz Goddard (Acton/Acton-Boxborough HS) scored a hat trick and added an assist for Bentley, while Morris netted a pair of goals and Griffin and junior Bridget Fitzgerald (Winchester/Winchester HS) each contributed a goal and an assist.

Millian scored twice for the Hawks and senior Caroline Gooding (Easton) recorded a goal and an assist.

Freshman Christina Guglielmo (Fair Haven, N.J./Rumson-Fair Haven HS) made 10 saves between the pipes to earn the win for the Falcons, while her counterpart, freshman Alexandra DiRico (Royersford, Pa.) stopped nine shots at the other end for Saint Anselm. The Hawks held a 33-29 advantage in shots, but Bentley was able to put more shots on goal with a 22-19 edge in that category.

The Falcons return to action on Wednesday with a trip to Easton to take on fourth-ranked Stonehill at 7:00 p.m. The team is back home on Friday at 7:00 p.m. to meet New Haven in a non-conference tilt.

2007-04-01