Rindge, N.H. (March 25) -- Led by a hat trick from sophomore Tori Russo (South Windsor, Conn./South Windsor), the Assumption College women's lacrosse team improved to 7-1 overall with an 11-9 road win over Franklin Pierce on Wednesday afternoon. The 7-1 record marks the best start in program history as the Hounds have won the last three games by two goals or less.

The Hounds jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead over the opening 5:10 of the game as senior Amy McNeil (Orange, Conn./Amity) and junior Julianna Molloy (Guilford, Conn./Guilford) found the net. The Ravens tied the game twice in the half though, including at 3-3 on a free-position shot by Caitlin Sweeney with 12:41 on the clock, as she finished the first half with a two-goal effort.

Just 22 seconds later, senior Camille Auger (Kennebunk, Maine/Kennebunk) scored her 98th career goal to put the Hounds back ahead to stay at 4-3 before the teams traded goals over the rest of the half for a 5-4 advantage at the halftime break in favor of the Hounds.

Molloy started the second with a man-up goal, followed by the sixth goal of the season from sophomore Quincy Wilkins (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug), to seize control by a 7-4 score just 3:58 into the half. Assumption stretched the advantage out to as many as five with a 10-5 lead after a man-down tally from Russo, followed by a 4-1 Ravens run to close the game for the 11-9 final. Lauren Beville scored twice in the final run for the Ravens, while Sweeney completed the hat trick with the final FPU goal of the game with 4:10 on the clock.

Assumption sophomore Jaclyn Chirco (Hopkinton, Mass./Hopkinton) had 12 saves to pick up her 16th career win, while FPU's Denise Hunt had 13 saves in the loss.

For the game, the Hounds were outshot by a 39-28 advantage, but Assumption owned a 14-8 edge on the draw and converted 14-of-17 clear attempts in the contest.

Russo had three goals and one assist to pace the Hounds, while Sweeney had three goals for the Ravens.

Assumption improves to 7-1 overall and 3-1 in Northeast-10 play, while Franklin Pierce drops to 4-2 overall and 2-2 in the league.

Assumption is back in action on March 28th as the Hounds host No. 8 ranked Stonehill College for a 1 p.m. start at the Multi-Sport Stadium.

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