SPRINGFIELD, Mass., May 2, 2006 - Springfield College senior Holly Carmody (Wayland, Mass.), the reigning New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Women's Lacrosse Player of the Year, had two goals and two assists to lead the visiting Pride to an 8-6 non-conference victory over Western New England College (WNEC) this afternoon in the regular-season finale for both teams at a rainy Golden Bear Stadium.

SC juniors Heidi Eidse (Bryn Athyn, Pa.) and Rachel Lampros (Boxborough, Mass.) each added two goals for the Pride, which recorded its eighth win in the past nine games, improving its overall record to 12-5. Junior Lisa Thomas (Whitman, Mass.) contributed a goal and an assist while sophomore Lindsay Bugbee (Granby, Conn.) tallied one goal. Freshman goalkeeper Nicole Flores (Branford, Conn.) finished with eight saves.

Western New England College took a 1-0 lead on a goal by sophomore Kayte Devine (New Fairfield, Conn.) 3:35 into the game. SC came back to take a 4-2 lead before Devine netted her second goal, at the 8:08 mark, to cut the margin to one at halftime (4-3).

After the Golden Bears tied the contest on a goal by senior Alyson Nowell (Feeding Hills, Mass.) only 1:07 into the second half, the Pride scored three straight times for a 7-4 advantage with 9:36 left in the game.

Nowell netted two of her game-high four goals in the final 9:19, including her last goal that made the score 8-6 with 6:15 left in the game. SC then controlled the game in the final minutes.

Senior Tara Cushman (Scituate, Mass.) was solid in the net with 15 saves for WNEC.

Western New England College (12-5) will host Worcester State on Saturday (May 6) in the championship game of the New England Women’s Lacrosse Alliance (NEWLA) Tournament with the winner advancing to the NCAA Division III Championship.

The Pride, which won the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament title last Sunday (Apr. 30), will find out this Sunday (May 7) its opponent in the NCAA Division III Tournament that starts on Wednesday, May 10th.

published: 05/03/2006