NEW LONDON, N.H. – Saint Joseph's College (5-3, 4-0 GNAC) erased a one-goal third-quarter deficit and scored the game's final four goals to defeat Colby-Sawyer College (8-1, 4-1 GNAC), 10-7, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's lacrosse action on Wednesday afternoon.
MILESTONE MET:
With her second goal of the game, scored at the 12:41 mark of the fourth quarter, junior Taylor Dumond (Minisink, N.Y.) became the 12th player in program history to reach the 100-career goal milestone. Senior Sophia Burton (Minisink, N.Y.) earned the assist on the historic marker.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Saint Joseph's struck first on a goal by sophomore Ella Highbarger (Kennebunk, Maine), but Colby-Sawyer answered with back-to-back tallies from Grace Joly to take a 2-1 lead midway through the opening quarter. The Monks responded with a pair of goals from Highbarger and sophomore Kiley Webber (Freeport, Maine) to carry a 3-2 edge into the second period.
The Chargers battled back in the second quarter and eventually pulled even, 5-5, by halftime after goals from Lauren Vignola, Rose Finlayson, and Elena Bronson. Saint Joseph's regained the lead early in the third on Webber's second marker of the day, but Colby-Sawyer answered with goals from Reese Holcomb and Joly to move back in front, 7-6, with 8:56 left in the frame.
That proved to be the Chargers' final goal of the afternoon. Junior Taylor Dumond (Minisink, N.Y.) tied the game with 4:13 remaining in the third quarter, and the Monks took over in the fourth. Senior Sophia Burton (Minisink, N.Y.) put Saint Joseph's in front for good at the 13:55 mark, Dumond added an insurance tally 74 seconds later, and Highbarger capped the scoring with her fourth goal of the contest with 6:04 to play.
STATS OF THE GAME:
Saint Joseph's owned a decisive 15-4 advantage in draw controls and also finished with a 30-18 edge in shots in the victory.
THE KEEPERS:
Saint Joseph's:
- Julia Price (Jr., Newbury, Mass.) – 60:00, 7 GA, 7 saves
Colby-Sawyer:
- Addison Glavin – 60:00, 10 GA, 12 saves
LEADERS – SAINT JOSEPH'S:
- Ella Highbarger – 4 goals, 1 assist, 2 ground balls, 2 caused turnovers
- Taylor Dumond – 2 goals, 1 ground ball, 2 caused turnovers, 6 draw controls
- Kiley Webber – 2 goals
- Sophia Burton – 1 goal, 2 assists
- Celia Melanson (Sr., Waterford, Maine) – 3 assists
- Ava Molineaux (So., Rowley, Mass.) – 3 ground balls, 3 caused turnovers, 5 draw controls
LEADERS – COLBY-SAWYER:
- Grace Joly – 3 goals
- Elena Bronson – 1 goal, 2 assists
- Lauren Vignola – 1 goal
- Reese Holcomb – 1 goal
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:
With the triumph, Saint Joseph's improves to 5-1 all-time versus Colby-Sawyer College and avenges last season's 11-10 setback in Standish on April 2, 2025, which marked the Chargers' first win in the series.
NEXT!
Saint Joseph's returns home on Saturday, March 28, when the Monks host Simmons University in a GNAC contest scheduled to begin at 12:00 PM.
