The Wildcats Sail Past Mariners in Inaugural Home Opener 15-5

LONGMEADOW, Mass.- Bay Path College hosted the Mariners of Mitchell College in an exhibition contest for their inaugural women's lacrosse home opener easily cruising past fellow first timers the Mariners 15-5 today at Ryan Field.  Junior midfielder Jillian O'Melia (East Longmeadow, Mass.) topped all players with nine points notching the game high six goals for the Wildcats. Sophomore midfielder Megan Squadrito (Ellington, Conn.) was not far behind her teammate with four goals and one assist for five points.  Squadrito also notched the eventual game winner and sixth goal for Bay Path in the seventh minute of play of the first half after an unassisted drive.

Also tallying five points was sophomore midfielder Megan Tancredi (Newington, Conn.). Tancredi led all players with four assists for the contest. Tancredi scored the sixth goal of the contest and third for Bay Path at 20:27 off a pass from O'Melia.

Senior attacker Shelby Regan (Longmeadow, Mass.) nailed the first goal of the game in only twenty seconds into the game off a pass from O'Melia. Regan would finish with three goals and one assist.

The Mariners freshman Angel Thorbjorsen (Kingston, N.Y.) would answer back with their first goal at 22:37. Regan would again score at 21:56.

Regan would then repeat at 21:56 with the Mariners again answering the call to knot the score 2-2 when junior attacker Kaylee Woodford (Niantic, Conn.) found the back of the net. Bay Path would score the next six goals never looking back.

Freshman Katie McBride (Paris, France) at 4:44 left in the first half for Mitchell. O'Melia would add the ninth goal for Bay Path with 4:14 left in the half. The score was 9-3 heading into the break.

Bay Path's O'Melia and Regan would score two more goals coming out of the break. Thorbjorsen would score the Mariners fourth goal at 12:03 on a free position shot. O'Melia would then sandwich a first goal for freshman attacker Brittany Morin (Holyoke, Mass.). Thornjorsen would score the Mariners final point at 5:12 on the clock. She would finish the game with three goals leading the Mariners.

Squadrito would add one more insurance goal for the Wildcats in the final four minutes off an assist from Tancredi.

Senior goalie Elizabeth Barclay (Auburn, Maine) would notch the victory facing 13 shots with eight saves. Anysia Lombardo (New London, Conn.) would suffer the loss facing 20 shots and tallying five saves.

Bay Path who now has two exhibition wins will face New England Collegiate Conference Play this Saturday, April 6th traveling to face Regis College for their first NECC match starting at 1:00 p.m.