WORCESTER, Mass. – Junior Jenna Joseph (Longmeadow, Mass.) factored into seven goals in leading the No. 18 Assumption University women's lacrosse team to a 14-11 victory over Southern Connecticut State at Brian Kelly '83 Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

In a physical game which saw the teams commit a combined 50 fouls, Southern Connecticut State (4-12, NE10 3-10) gained the upper hand by building up an early 3-1 advantage with three different players finding the back of the net. However, the Greyhounds answered back with seven straight and never trailed again.

Assumption led 5-3 through the first quarter in which five of the eight goals between the teams were scored on free position attempts. Joseph finished a pass from Lauren Pickett on a free position with the Greyhounds up a player to give the hosts their first lead at 4-3 with 4:27 remaining in the opening quarter, and senior Jill Good converted a free position attempt to close out the run and make it 8-3 with 5:50 remaining in the half.

Savannah Feinberg broke a scoreless drought that lasted 18:21 for Southern Connecticut State by netting a free position goal, but the Greyhounds had the last word before the break. Joseph and graduate student Alison Foley (Walpole, Mass.) responded with goals just 33 seconds apart to give the hosts a 10-4 advantage at halftime.

After Joseph found senior Lauren Jakobs (Naples, Maine) for two straight markers to begin the third, the Owls stormed back by closing out the frame on a 4-0 run with four different players finding the back of the net. An unassisted strike by Morgan Reilly made it 12-9 through 45 minutes of action.

Assumption, however, was able to hold off the Owls who just wouldn't go away quietly. Good drove in through traffic to provide the dagger that put the Greyhounds ahead by four with 2:50 left, which was enough insurance for the hosts to head into the upcoming conference tournament with momentum.

Joseph finished with a game-high seven points by registering three goals and four assists for Assumption, which outshot the Owls by a 31-23 margin despite winning just 11 of 28 draw controls. Jakobs netted a hat trick and scooped up two ground balls, while sophomore Olivia Catanzarete (East Longmeadow, Mass.) won five draws and scored twice. Senior Allie Collins (Natick, Mass.) turned away nine shots.

Brianna Shaw was a spark for Southern Connecticut State by scoring three goals and winning five draws. Karlie Rowe had two assists and four draws, while Bayleigh Takacs netted two goals apiece. Goalie Rileigh Bunton made seven saves and had two ground balls.

Assumption (10-7, NE10 8-5) earned the fifth seed in the upcoming Northeast-10 Conference Tournament and will travel for a rematch against fourth-seeded Pace on Wednesday evening at 6 p.m.