FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 21, 2012

RICCI SCORES GAME-WINNER IN SUDDEN DEATH
RIC Stops Three-Game Losing Skid
in, 16-15, Win Over Simmons

Boston, Mass.-Freshman attacker Jessica Ricci (Hope, RI) scored the game-winning goal with 1:57 remaining in the second sudden death overtime period to lead the Rhode Island College women's lacrosse team to a 16-15 win at Simmons on Saturday afternoon.

The win stops a three-game losing streak for the Anchorwomen (3-8), while Simmons (7-8) drops to one game below .500.

Freshman attacker Jessica Ricci

Senior attacker Nicky Drolet (Somersworth, NH) continued her torrid offensive streak, contributing six goals and two assists for eight points. Sophomore goalkeeper Taryn Carbone (Cranston, RI) made 13 saves.

RIC led, 7-4, at the half, but the Sharks scored 11 second-half goals to force overtime.

The Sharks struck first when Stephanie Oliveri (Waltham, MA) beat Carbone on the right side. The Anchorwomen then took the lead, scoring seven unanswered goals, four by Drolet and one each by junior midfielder Courtney McKiernan (Hope, RI), senior midfielder Jenna Childs (Cranston, RI) and sophomore midfielder Jessalyn O’Neill (North Providence, RI). Rachel Wallace (Braintree, MA) struck twice in the last five minutes of the half to cut the lead to four and Megan Coffey (Wilmot Flat, NH) converted on a stellar pass from Lee Sutherland (Tuftonboro, NH) to cut the lead to three.

Simmons tied the game at eight at 22:39 in the second half off two quick goals by Mary Essa (Las Vegas, NV) and one each by Wallace and Coffey. Drolet and Ricci beat Sharks goalkeeper Crystal Derosier (Kingston, MA) to take the lead again 10-8, but the Sharks were relentless and tied the game at 10 off goals from Callie Warnock (Kingston, MA) and Sutherland.

The Anchorwomen again increased their lead to three off tallies from senior attacker Molly Voyer (Lincoln, RI), sophomore attacker Ashley Signoriello (Cranston, RI) and Ricci. But Sharks captain Meaghan Maurice (Portland, ME) and Warnock each converted their free position shots and the Sharks again trailed by just one.

With less than five minutes to play, Drolet scored her sixth goal of the game to give the Anchorwomen a cushion of two until Sutherland found Coffey driving to the net and then beat Carbone in the high left corner. Essa tied the game at 14 with two minutes to play.

Ricci took the ball off the draw and scored a quick goal for the lead with thirty-three seconds remaining, but Rachel Wallace collected a ground ball and found Coffey in the slot to send the game to overtime with five seconds left on the clock.

Rhode Island outshot the Sharks in the first overtime, but Derosier came up big with three saves to send the game to sudden death double overtime.

The Sharks had a chance to end the game off a free position shot, but Carbone made an impressive save in net to keep the game tied at 15. The Anchorwomen transitioned down the field and with 1:57 remaining, Ricci found the back of the net for the win.

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will host Wheelock on Monday, April 23 (6 p.m.).

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