Beavers Move to 7-0 In Conference Play and Clinch First League Regular-Season Crown Since 2012

BABSON PARK, Mass.—Junior Emily Bresnahan (Wenham, Mass.) scored a career-high five goals and classmate Francesca Giovanucci (Easton, Mass.) added a career-best three assists as Babson College defeated visiting Springfield College, 8-6, to clinch its first New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women's lacrosse regular-season title since 2012 on Saturday afternoon at MacDowell Field.

Babson, which has won seven in a row and 10 of its last 11 games, is now 11-3 overall and 7-0 in conference play, while Springfield falls to 10-5 overall and 5-2 in the NEWMAC.

Senior McKenzie Tucci (Winchester, Mass.) finished with a goal and two assists, while junior Delaney Carroll (Acton, Mass.) and first-year Lauren Drakeley (Woodbury, Conn.) combined for five caused turnovers for the Beavers. Sophomore Julia Harrigan (Portsmouth, R.I.) chipped in with a team-high three draw controls in the victory.

Senior Heather Raniolo (Ossining, N.Y.), who was one of six players to score a goal, led all players with four draw controls for the Pride. Classmate Bianca Raniolo (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) contributed two assists, while first-year Andie Stone (Burlington, Conn.) scooped up a team-high six ground balls.

Raniolo gave Springfield a 1-0 lead with a free-position strike just under four minutes into the contest before the Green and White responded with three straight goals. Sophomore Charlotte O'Halloran (Middletown, R.I.) converted a feed from Giovannuci and Bresnahan followed with back-to-back markers to make it 3-1 with 18:08 left in the opening half.

Senior Kristina Krull (Leicester, Mass.) pulled the Pride even with 10:28 to go in the stanza, but Bresnahan notched consecutive tallies just 31 seconds apart to help the Beavers regain a 5-3 advantage with 5:07 to go in the period. Sophomore Kristen Steidler (Somers, Conn.) made it a one-goal game with 2:15 to go in the stanza, and despite being down a player, Springfield tied the game again just under three minutes into the second half on a goal by sophomore Ann Mahoney (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.).

Mahoney had a chance to give the Pride the lead four minutes later but hit the crossbar with her free-position attempt. The Green and White took advantage as Bresnahan broke the 5-5 deadlock and sparked a three-goal Beavers' runs with her fifth marker of the day with 21:38 remaining. Tucci and junior Kiley Fischer (Marblehead, Mass.) scored nearly nine minutes apart to extend the Babson lead to 8-5 with 7:13 left. Sophomore Julia Bireley (Franklin, Mass.) cut the Springfield defcit to 8-6 with 5:09 to play, but the Green and White won the ensuing draw and never gave up possession over the final five minutes.

Junior Stevie Burger (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) made three of her four saves in the first half for Babson, while junior Gabby Anderson (Mahopac, N.Y.) finished with seven stops for the Pride.

The Beavers finished with a 22-12 edge in shots and limited Springfield to just three shots on goal in the second half. The Green and White also converted 14-of-15 clear opportunities.

Both teams will wrap up the regular season on Wednesday as Babson travels to MIT at 7 p.m., while the Pride visits Emerson at 6 p.m.

GAME NOTES
• The Beavers are now 15-15 all-time against Springfield and have won three of their last four meetings against the Pride.
• Babson has now won seven regular-season conference titles going back to the formation of the NEW 6 in 1987.
• The Green and White is 7-0 in the month of April, and is allowing just 4.86 goals over its first seven league contests.
• Tucci and fellow seniors Kayla Farina (Newton, Mass.) and Allison Windsor (Palm City, Fla.) were honored before the game. The trio has helped the program earn four straight NEWMAC Tournament berths, which includes appearances in the conference title game in both 2013 and 2014.