THE BASICS:

- Score: Assumption 17, Saint Anselm 14

- Record: Assumption (8-7, 6-6 NE10), Saint Anselm (6-10, 4-8 NE10)

- Location: Worcester, Mass. (Multi-Sport Stadium)

The Lead: Assumption scored the final two goals of the first half and three of the first four in the second to hold off Saint Anselm for a 17-14 victory in a crucial NE10 matchup on a soggy Wednesday evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

- Saint Anselm scored just 54 seconds into the contest, before Caitlin Graves (Ashland, Mass. / Ashland) answered on a goal at 26:46. That jumpstarted a 4-0 run by the Hounds over the next four minutes for a 4-1 lead, culminating with a goal by Callie Dwyer (Merrimack, N.H. / Merrimack). The Hawks countered with its own run, scoring four straight, including three by Rachel Henderson to take a 5-4 lead with 16:10 remaining.

- Sophomore Sarah Reilly (Fairfield, Conn. / Fairfield-Warde) tied the game up with 15:38 left and Jen McDonald (Walpole, Mass. / Walpole) put Assumption on top 6-5 one minute later. Amanda Burns (Billerica, Mass. / Billerica Memorial) then made it 7-5, before two straight goals by Erica Mattila evened the game at seven apiece. The Hounds outscored the Hawks 3-1 over the last four minutes of regulation, including a goal by Alexis Pastore (Baldwinsville, N.Y. / Charles W. Baker) with 50 seconds remaining for a 10-8 advantage at the break.

- Saint Anselm pulled within one just 23 seconds into half, but the score remained 10-9 until McDonald gave Assumption some breathing room with a goal at 22:53. Reilly and Graves each scored over the next five minutes for a 13-9 advantage and the Hounds led 14-10 with 14 minutes left.

- The Hawks answered with three straight goals over a seven-minute span, closing the gap to just 14-13 with 6:14 left. However, Graves scored off a Reilly assist at 5:38 and Dwyer made it 16-14 with 2:04 left. McDonald concluded the scoring and the defense did the rest to give the Hounds a 17-14 victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

- Saint Anselm actually held a 30-26 shot advantage in the contest and had less turnovers (16-11), but Assumption picked up more ground balls (13-12) and won more draw controls (19-14).

- Five different players had a hat trick for the Hounds and seven totaled at least three points. Reilly finished with a team-best six points on three goals and three assists while Jenny Bush (Kennebunk, Maine / Kennebunk) posted three goals, one assist and three draw controls.

- Burns was dominant with a career-high 11 draw controls, three assists and one goal. Graves (3g, 1a), Dwyer (3g) and McDonald (3g) each registered hat tricks. Lexi Finn (Denville, N.J. / Morris Catholic) added three draws, two ground balls and one caused turnover.

- Henderson led Saint Anselm with six goals while Mattila had four goals and six draw controls.

- Jaclyn Chirco (Hopkinton, Mass. / Hopkinton) earned her eighth win of the season by stopping 11 shots, eight in the second half, and allowed 14 goals. Zoei Cavotta took the loss as she gave up 16 goals and made three saves.

- The win moves Assumption to 6-6 in conference play, tied for the most NE10 wins in a single season in program history.

UP NEXT:

- Assumption returns to action on Saturday when the team hosts Merrimack for Senior Day at 1 pm.

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