The Rivier women's lacrosse team can celebrate the fact it's qualified for the GNAC postseason. (Courtesy photo by Katie Morrison-O'Day/Rivier Athletics)

BRIGHTON, Mass. – The Rivier women’s lacrosse team defeated Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) foe Simmons, 9-7, Saturday afternoon at Daly Field.

With the win, the Raiders improved to 8-8 (6-6 GNAC) and clinched a spot in the GNAC Tournament. The Sharks fell to 3-10 (3-8 GNAC).

HOW IT HAPPENED

Simmons jumped out early, scoring two of the game’s first three goals. Sophomore Brooke Carter answered for Rivier at the 7:51 mark to knot the score at 1-1. After the Sharks regained the lead, the Raiders responded with three straight goals. Junior Sofia Cebrero sparked the run with a woman-up free-position goal at 4:34. Nearly two minutes later, Carter set up first-year Olivia Wheeler on the woman advantage to give Rivier a 3-2 edge, and Wheeler followed with another goal off a feed from sophomore Keegan McGaheran to make it a two-goal lead.

First-year Chloe Waldron opened the second quarter with a goal, finishing a pass from Cebrero. Simmons closed the half with two late tallies, cutting Rivier’s lead to one heading into the break.

Simmons carried that momentum into the third quarter, scoring twice in the opening five minutes to take a 6-5 lead. Carter responded to tie the game once again, and junior Shaelyn Burke then found Cebrero to put Rivier back in front, 7-6. First-year Hayleigh Young added her first goal of the afternoon with 3:08 remaining in the quarter, giving the Raiders a two-goal cushion.

The Sharks pulled back within one at 8:14 of the fourth quarter. Both teams had quality chances throughout the middle of the period, but neither could convert. With 1:31 left, first-year Emma Finch sealed the 9-7 victory with an unassisted woman-up goal.

BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN

Carter and Cebrero paced the offense with three points each…Junior Alysha Hok led the team with four ground balls…Young and junior Madelyn Poulton each caused two turnovers…Young added five draw controls…First-year Arrianna Imbriano made six saves in the win.

UP NEXT

The Raiders return to action Wednesday for their Raider game against GNAC foe and intrastate rivals New England College. The opening draw is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Joanne Merrill Field.

MEN’S LACROSSE

RAIDERS FINISH REGULAR SEASON UNBEATEN

The Rivier men’s lacrosse team capped off a perfect regular season with a 13-6 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) victory over Emmanuel (Mass.) on Saturday afternoon at Roberto Clemente Field.

With the win, the Raiders conclude the regular season at 15-0 overall and 11-0 in GNAC play. The Saints end the day at 7-8 overall and 6-4 in conference action.

The undefeated mark is the first in program history for Rivier and represents the second straight season the Raiders have gone unbeaten in GNAC competition.

Sophomore Liam Conley got Rivier on the board early, scoring an unassisted goal just 2:20 into the opening quarter. Emmanuel (Mass.) responded late in the frame with two goals to take a 2-1 advantage after one.

After nearly six minutes without a goal to start the second quarter, Conley netted his second of the afternoon to tie the contest at 2-2. With 5:50 remaining, Liam Conley found his brother, sophomore Aiden Conley, for a man-up goal to give the Raiders the lead. Just eight seconds later, sophomore Mason Schultz assisted first-year Conor Walsh to extend the advantage. Emmanuel added a late goal, but Schultz answered with his second of the half, sending Rivier into halftime with a 6-3 lead.

The Raiders maintained momentum in the second half, outscoring the Saints 7-3 over the final 30 minutes. Walsh opened the scoring before Emmanuel cut the deficit to three. Schultz and Walsh then struck on consecutive possessions midway through the third quarter to push the lead to five. Sophomore James DelPrete added a goal with 5:34 remaining, followed by L. Conley completing his hat trick. Junior Cole Ronalter assisted first-year Henri Brochu late in the quarter to make it 12-4 after three.

Emmanuel (Mass.) opened the fourth quarter with two quick goals, but defenses settled in for much of the period. With under a minute remaining, Walsh scored his third of the game to seal the 13-6 win and secure the undefeated regular season for Rivier.

Walsh paced the offense with five points, followed by L. Conley with four.

Senior Owen McDuffie recorded a career-high 18 ground balls…First-year Logan Layton caused three turnovers…Sophomore Jake Lydon made eight saves in the win.

The Raiders await their opponent for the GNAC Quarterfinals next Saturday, April 25 at Joanne Merrill Field.

BASEBALL

RAIDERS DROP DOUBLEHEADER TO MITCHELL

With the result at Harvey Woods Field, the Raiders moved to 10-17 (5-9 GNAC), while the Mariners moved to 23-9 (16-2 GNAC)

Mitchell 10, Rivier 0 (7 inn.)

The Mariners tallied 11 hits, scoring 10 runs across seven innings of play.

Rivier junior Colton Colleran went 3-of-3 at the plate, while drawing one walk.

Senior Anthony Morro, sophomore Nikolas Mastakouras, and senior Brendan Ferris combined for four strikeouts.

Mitchell 12, Rivier 4 (9 inn.)

Mitchell plated eight runs in the second inning to take a commanding lead.

Junior Nathan Innerfield doubled to left field, scoring classmate Liam Stott to put the Raiders on the board in the fourth. Senior Dylan Aliberti followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 8-2.

In the seventh inning, Mitchell added two more runs to extend the lead to 11-2.In the eighth, Innerfield blasted a two-run homer over the left field fence to cap Rivier’s scoring at 11-4.

In the ninth, the Mariners tacked on one more to secure the 12-4 final.

Innerfield went 2 for 4 with two runs scored and three RBI…Stott went 2 for 4 with two runs scored…Aliberti went 2 for 3 with an RBI…Juniors Chris Volino, Conor Mottrams, and first-year Dylan Morelli combined for five strikeouts.

The Raiders are back in action today on the road for a GNAC contest against Lasell. First pitch is at 3:00 p.m. with the second game scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Kezer Field.

SOFTBALL

SIMMONS SWEEPS RIVIER

The Rivier softball team dropped a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader to Simmons at Raider Diamond, falling 11-1 in the opener before a narrow 4-3 defeat in game two.

With the losses, the Raiders moved to 13-17 (9-5 GNAC) on the season, while the Sharks improved to 17-17 (10-3 GNAC)

Simmons 11, Rivier 1 (5 inn.)

Simmons jumped out early with two runs in the first inning to take control.

The Sharks broke the game open in the second, scoring five runs on six hits to extend the lead to 7-1.

Rivier got on the board in the bottom of the first as senior Olivia Couto delivered an RBI single to score first-year Emma Politz. Simmons added four more runs in the third inning, pushing the advantage to 11-1.

The Raiders were limited offensively, collecting just three hits in the contest. Junior Hayleigh Silva provided a bright spot in relief, tossing two scoreless innings to close out the game.

Politz led Rivier with two hits at the plate, while Couto recorded the team’s lone RBI.

Simmons 4, Rivier 3

Simmons opened the scoring with two runs in the first inning on a pair of RBI singles. Rivier responded in the bottom half, capitalizing on an error and an RBI single from Couto to cut the deficit to 2-1.

The Sharks added a run in the second, but the Raiders answered as Silva drove in a run to make it 3-2. Rivier evened the score in the third inning, taking advantage of a wild pitch to tie the game at 3-3.

Both teams were held scoreless until the sixth inning when Simmons pushed across the go-ahead run. The Raiders threatened late but were unable to complete the comeback, falling just short.

Junior Liv Harnish led the offense with two hits and a run scored.

Couto added two hits and an RBI, while Silva contributed an RBI at the plate.

The Raiders look to bounce back in non-conference action Wednesday evening at Raider Diamond vs. the Owls of Keene State. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 3 p.m.