Raiders hold off late Regis rally, win season opener by one

(Nashua, NH) Junior Jessica Amaral (East Providence, RI) leads the Raiders to victory in season opener against Regis College.

In a close match-up the Rivier University Raiders' offense was able to hold the lead against Regis College and earn the win in their first game of the 2013 season. After a 15-14 victory on Tuesday night the Rivier women's lacrosse team is looking to return the GNAC playoffs behind a volatile offense led by senior Lauren Brett (Otisfield, ME), junior Jessica Amaral (East Providence, RI), and junior Rebecca Wickens (Tyngsboro, MA). The trio combined for 15 of the teams 18 points on the night. The defense is anchored by senior captain Caitlin Gallagher (Billerica, MA) and freshmen goalie Danielle Moran (San Diego, CA).

Just 1:02 into the game Regis took the first lead of the game off of a goal by freshman Sam Salamone (Milford, MA). Salamone would finish the night with 6 goals, 2 assists, and a game high 16 ground balls. A minute and a half later Rivier answered with a goal by Jessica Amaral, her first of the season. She would lead the Raiders with 5 goals, 3 assists and13 ground balls on the night. Salamone notched her second goal of the night 3:50 into the game to put Regis up 2-1. Once again Rivier brought the game even on Wickens first of four goals on the night. Over the next two minutes Regis would take the lead again after goals from sophomore Grace Politis (Billerica, MA) and junior Andrea Barbosa (Taunton, MA). Politis would end with 6 tallies on the evening. Rivier would tie the game again after Brett's first goal and Amaral's second on the man up opportunity. In the final four minutes the teams would exchange goals until the final seconds of the half which saw the score locked at 8-8.

Less than half a minute out of the break Samantha Salmone would score her fifth goal of the night from a Barbosa assist. Rivier would respond by rattling off 3 straight goals, a major turning point in the game, and they would lead for the rest of the contest. Regis came within a goal with the score 11-10 but almost directly off the faceoff win Rebecca Wickens used her speed to get to the net and score her fourth goal of the night. The teams would exchange goals for the next 10 minutes bringing the score to 15-12. With a last minute effort Regis came within a goal of tying the game but the Raiders defense stayed strong and earned the 15-14 victory.

Rivier returns to action in two weeks when they will travel to Framingham State University on March 13, 2013. Regis will play their next game next Saturday, March 9, when they will face the University of Dallas in Texas.