BOSTON, Mass. – Simmons Lacrosse scored 8 goals in the first half and 8 in the second en route to a 16-9 win over Emmanuel in the first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's lacrosse game of the season. Despite a hat trick from freshman attacker Marykate McNulty (Madison, Conn.) and just a three-goal deficit at the half, the Saints (1-1, 0-1 GNAC)) were unable to hang with the visiting Sharks (2-2, 1-0 GNAC) in Saturday's Colleges of the Fenway rivalry played at Roberto Clemente Field.

The host Saints struck first, scoring off a free position shot by freshman middie Alexia Basile (West Hartford, Conn.), but the Sharks quickly tied things up at 1-1, when Simmons junior Rachel Wallace (Braintree, Mass.) netted her first of five goals on the day. Rookie Stephanie Oliveri (Waltham, Mass.) scored again for Simmons just 42 seconds later and the Sharks would not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the contest.

With a minute and a half remaining in the first frame, freshman midfielder Madison Altwies (Southington, Conn.) netted her sixth goal of the season with an assist from Madeline Leahy (Cohasset, Mass.) and the Saints trailed, 8-5 at the break.

Leahy would then score unassisted five minutes into the second stanza to bring the spread to 8-6. But Emmanuel would never come closer than two goals, as Simmons began to pour on the pressure. The Sharks scored six answered goals over a ten-minute span, including three markers from freshman midfielder Mary Essa (Las Vegas, Nev.). Simmons' final score of the game came with just eight seconds remaining, as Wallace drilled home her fifth goal of the game and the visitors came away with a 16-9 win.

Emmanuel possessed the ball well, trailing Simmons in shots just 32-31. The Saints picked up 33 groundballs, to 28 by the Sharks. Simmons goalie Crystal Derosier (Kingston, Mass.) picked up the win, making 15 saves for the Sharks. Emmanuel's sophomore goalie Hillary Dandurant (Merrimac, Mass.) evened her record to 1-1 on the year with the loss. Dandurant made 7 stops for the host Saints.

Emmanuel will return to Roberto Clemente field on Tuesday night (March 20th), when the Saints host the Cadets of Norwich University in a 7:00pm start. The Sharks host Emerson College on Tuesday, March 20th for a 7:00 p.m. start.