2005 NEWMAC WOMEN'S LACROSSE TOURNAMENT
Springfield tops host Wheaton, 12-10 to secure second conference championship

May 1, 2005

NORTON, MA- Junior Holly Carmody (Wayland, MA/Wayland) totaled six goals and first-year goalkeeper Kristin Vaccaro (Southington, CT/Southington) was impressive in net with 19 saves, leading the number-two seed Springfield College Pride to a 12-10 victory over host Wheaton College to claim their second New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament championship at Keefe Field.

Wheaton and Springfield have now faced one another in four consecutive conference tournament title games, with each team winning two championships in that stretch. Snapping the Lyons' 17-game conference winning streak while winning the NEWMAC Tournament title for the first time since 2002, the Pride will represent the NEWMAC at the upcoming NCAA Division III Tournament. Springfield improves to 12-5 on the season, while the Lyons fall to 11-5 and will now await a possible berth into the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament.

The Lyons opened the game's scoring just over one minute into regulation, when junior Julia Coit (South Portland, ME/South Portland) connected with freshman Meredith Hurd (Bath, ME/Hyde School) for the 1-0 edge. Springfield responded with four unanswered goals, including two from Carmody, for a 4-1 lead midway through the stanza. Wheaton cut its deficit to two with 8:31 showing on the clock, but Carmody helped push the Pride advantage to four goals with consecutive tallies for a 6-2 cushion at the half.

Springfield extended its lead to 9-3 eight minutes into the second half. The Lyons tallied three quick goals to narrow their deficit to 9-6, but the Pride responded with two of the game's next three goals for an 11-7 lead. Springfield held a 12-8 advantage with five minutes to play and held off Wheaton until the final 1:45 of regulation, when the Lyons scored twice to close out the scoring.

In addition to Carmody's six tallies, senior Erin Looney (West Springfield, MA/West Springfield) posted four goals and classmate Spring Silverman (Huntingdon, PA/Acad. New Church) scored twice. Wheaton senior Vanessa Pisano (Vineyard Haven, MA/Martha's Vineyard) paced the Lyons with four goals, while Hurd and first-year Sara Dimick (Cumberland, ME/Greely) added three and two goals, respectively.

Vaccaro turned away 19 of Wheaton's 37 shots, as the Lyons held a 37-20 advantage in shots, while Lyon senior A.J. Vasiliou (Middletown, CT/Mercy) finished with five saves in the loss.

2005 NEWMAC WOMEN'S LACROSSE TOURNAMENT
Springfield 12, Wheaton 10

SCORING
Springfield (12-5) 6 6 12
Wheaton (11-5) 2 8 10
Cumulative Scoring:
Goals: WC- Vanessa Pisano 4, Meredith Hurd 3, Sara Dimick 2, Caitlin Tierney
SC- Holly Carmody 6, Erin Looney 4, Spring Silverman 2
Assists: WC- Coit 2, Tierney; SC- Heidi Eidse 2, Ashley Martell 2, Carmody
Goalkeeper Saves: WC- A.J. Vasiliou 5; SC- Kristin Vaccaro 19
Shots: WC- 37; SC- 20