BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State College earned a share of the New England Women's Lacrosse Alliance (NEWLA) regular season title and the top seed for next week's NEWLA Tournament, as the Bears downed the Rams of Framingham State College, 23-12, this afternoon in Bridgewater.
The Bears, winners of nine straight games, improve to 13-4 on the season and 6-1 in the NEWLA. The conference regular season title is Bridgewater's third straight and fifth overall. Framingham ends the 2010 campaign with an overall record of 6-8 with a 2-5 mark in conference play.
Junior attack Jenny Jones (Framingham, MA) and senior midfielder Shannon Manning (Framingham, MA) led the way for the hosts. Jones scored eight goals, while Manning recorded two goals and seven assists to go along with three draw controls.
Manning now has 108 points on the season as she eclipsed her own single-season scoring record of 105 points set in 2008.
Manning also eclipsed both the BSC single-season and career assist marks as she now has 54 on the campaign and 153 in her career. Manning originally set the single-season assist mark in 2008 with 49. Paula Habel (2000-2003) was the previous career record holder with 152.
Jones set the Bears' single-season goal scoring mark as she now has 73 on the year. She broke her own school record of 71 goals set just last season.
Senior midfielder Katie DeMaio (Port Jefferson Station, NY) and junior midfielder Courtney Lennon (Medfield, MA) each added three goals and an assist for the Bears who led 16-4 at the half and led by as many as 14 (23-9). DeMaio became the third player in BSC women's lacrosse history to reach the 200-goal milestone, joining both Manning (219) and Jones (211)
Senior netminder Meghan Griffin (Billerica, MA) recorded her 36th career goaltending win for the Bears as she turned aside four shots in 30 minutes of work.
Bridgewater held a 32-20 shot advantage for the game as well as a slight 18-17 edge in draws.
Junior attack Stephanie Corrales (Framingham, MA) paced the visiting Rams with two goals and three assists, while senior attack Ashley Noonan (Mansfield, MA) chipped in with two goals and two assists. Sophomore midfielder Kerry Kiley (Mansfield, MA) and freshman attack Chelsea Temple (Rutland, VT) added three goals apiece for Framingham.
Bridgewater will take on number four seed Fitchburg State College in a NEWLA Tournament semifinal match on Wednesday, May 5th. Game time has yet to be determined.