ALBANY, N.Y. (April 2, 2024) – The Western New England women's lacrosse team came away with their second straight road win of their schedule, coming away with a 16-9 victory over the Gators of Russell Sage College. WNE's Mia Celentano came away with nine points, including her 100^th career collegiate point in the win.

Records:

• Western New England: 2-7
• Russell Sage College: 4-5

How it Happened:

Coming off a road win, their first of the season, the Western New England women's lacrosse team came away with the first goal of the game when Emmy Burns notched a tally on an assist from Mia Celentano to open the game, giving the Golden Bears the early 1-0 lead. Russell Sage College would grab the next shot following the goal from Celentano,though Riley Franzo would come around and make the save for WNE, keeping the Gators off the scoreboard. WNE would score again with 8:22 left in the first quarter when Mia Celentano collected her second point of the game and first goal of the game, giving WNE a 2-0 advantage. RSC would collect a free position goal on their next attempt, though WNE would not back away from offense, finding their game and closing out the first quarter on a 4-0 run. Lina Eves, Ella Henry, and Celentano would all come away with goals in the span for the blue and gold, including a Henry goal with just one second to play in the quarter, giving WNE a 6-1 lead after the opening quarter of play. The Golden Bears outshot RSC 10-9 in the first 15 minutes of the game and turned the ball over just two times. Riley Franzo made four saves in net, while WNE was a perfect 6/6 on clear attempts.

The Gators fought back in the second quarter, scoring the first three goals to open the frame to get back within two goals. Three different Gators would find the back of the net in the sequence before the Golden Bears would respond to find the back of the net for their seventh goal of the night. Emmy Burns would be fouled inside the crease and would be awarded a free position shot, one the senior did not make a mistake with, firing the ball into the back of the net, giving WNE their three-goal lead back and taking a 7-4 lead. The Gators would put together two goals in a row following the goal from Burns before Mia Celentano would be back on the scoreboard for her second goal of the night, giving WNE an 8-6 edge. The Gators found the back of the net with 23 seconds left to play in the second quarter, giving Western New England an 8-7 lead after 30 minutes of play. RSC found their offense in the second quarter, shooting eight times on Franzo, while the senior goalie made two saves for the Golden Bears in the second quarter. The Gators outscored Western New England 6-2.

Back-to-back goals for the Golden Bears in just over a minute to begin the third quarter would give Western New England a 10-7 lead. Allie Cyr would collect a goal on an assist from Ella Henry, while Mia Celentano would be back on the board for her third of the night, grabbing WNE a 10-7 lead. Western New England would score the only three goals of the quarter when Emmy Burns was again back on the scoresheet, giving WNE an 11-7 lead. Both Lina Eves and Abbey Francis caused two turnovers each for the Golden Bears in the quarter to hold Russell Sage off the scoreboard in the third.

Western New England would bury the hosts in the opening half of the fourth quarter, scoring the first three goals of the quarter while scoring six in a row throughout the second half to take their largest lead of the game. Burns (2) and Allie Cyr would be back on the scoreboard, while Celentano would assist on two of WNE's goals, jetting Western New England out to a 14-7 lead. Following a goal from the Gators, Celentano would add her final marks to a career high nine points in the game, scoring WNE's final two goals of the night on their way to a 16-9 win over Russell Sage College on Tuesday night.

Inside the Lines:

• Mia Celentano led Western New England by producing a career-high six goals and nine points in the win. The junior tossed 14 shots, placing nine on goal while coming away with four ground balls, winning five draw controls, and coming away with one caused turnover.
• Emmy Burns ripped five goals into the back of the net, a career high, while finishing the game with six total points. Burns played a complete game, coming away with seven shots, six on goal, two ground balls, four draw controls, and one caused turnover.
• Both Allie Cyr and Ella Henry came away with three points each, both scoring twice while grabbing an assist.
• Both Russell Sage and Western New England took 35 shots in the game, with WNE taking the 25-23 shots on goal advantage.
• Senior Riley Franzo played all 60 minutes for the Golden Bears, coming away with 14 saves, also a career high.
• The Golden Bears won 18 of 28 draw controls in the win.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England women's lacrosse returns home after two road wins, looking for their first home victory of the season when they host Worcester State University on Thursday, April 4 at 4:00 pm.