Gators fall to Regis, despite record-setting efforts
Troy, NY--- The Sage Colleges' women's lacrosse team hosted Regis College on Friday afternoon in the season-opener for both teams. The Pride of Regis tallied a 10-7 win as freshman Grace Politis (Billerica, MA/Billerca) finished with a game-high six goals in her collegiate debut.
The contest marked the debut of Pete Stapleton as the Sage women's lacrosse coach and the team responded with a number of important high-water marks along the way. The seven goals by the Gators was the most in an opening day contest, while the five-goal performance from Sage's junior captain Alexa Veeder (Earlton, NY/Academy of the Holy Names) ties the single-game record for goals. Junior goalie Courtney Reed (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) finished with 10 saves putting a top Sage's career saves record with 176, nine more than the previous career record.
Regis led 6-3 at the half after opening the action with a 3-0 run. Politis had a pair of goals to start the scoring for the Pride. Veeder put the Gators on the scoreboard at 19:01 on a feed from sophomore Mary Kate Hayward (Queensbury, NY/Glens Falls). Veeder would tally a hat trick in the first half for the Gators as they trailed 6-3 at the intermission.
Sage opened the second half of play with a 2-0 run on a goal by senior Ginelle Butler (Malta, NY/Ballston Spa) at 25:54 and a follow-up by Veeder two minutes later. The pair of goals by Sage pulled the Gators within one, down 6-5. Regis connected on the next three goals of the match before Veeder and Hayward scored to pull the Gators within striking distance before time expired.
Butler, who opened the season as Sage's all-time career point and goal scoring leader now has 35 points on 31 goals and four assists.
For Regis, Politis paced the Pride with six points, while sophomore Andrea Barbosa (Taunton, MA/Taunton), rookies Sashae Walls (Everette, MA/Everett) and Adena Joseph (Stoughton, MA/Stoughton) and junior Kristen Amicangioli (Belmont, MA/Arlington Catholic) all scored one goal a piece on opening day.
Sage's Veeder poured in five goals, while Butler and Hayward each scored one a piece, while Hayward tallied an assist for two points on the afternoon.
Regis's junior goalie Meghan Ryan (Stow, MA/Nashoba Regional) finished with eight saves, while Sage's Reed tallied 10 in the action.
Sage will be back in action on March 10, when they host the Pioneers of Utica College at RPI's Renwyck Field with a 1 p.m. start. Regis returns to action also on March 10 facing Bard on the road at 1 p.m.