PROVIDENCE, R.I. (March 28, 2026) – UMass Boston women's lacrosse (3-7, 1-1 LEC) survived a furious fourth-quarter rally by Rhode Island College (1-6, 0-3 LEC) to claim an 11-7 Little East Conference victory in Providence, R.I. A dominant middle two quarters fueled the Beacons, who outscored the Anchorwomen 10-1 in the second and third frames to build a lead that proved too large to overcome. Five Beacons netted a pair of goals in a total team effort to begin LEC play in the win column.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After trading early blows — Samantha DeMarco (Bayville, N.J.) opening the scoring before Rhode Island College answered to lead 3-1 after the first quarter — the Beacons came out of the break with an entirely different gear. UMass Boston erupted for five unanswered goals in the second quarter, repeatedly forcing the Anchorwomen into foul trouble and cashing in on the advantage. Kaitlyn Ondrick (Westfield, Mass.) got the run started, assisted by Alexander, before Alexander converted a free position attempt of her own to level the score at 3-3. Mazzone then took over, burying a free position goal and adding a player-up tally — assisted by Morgan Holohan (Averill Park, NY) — before Holohan capped the quarter with a player-up free position goal of her own, sending the Beacons into halftime with a commanding 6-3 lead.

The third quarter was more of the same. Jamie McAleavey (Quincy, Mass.) found the back of the net just over a minute in, and after Rhode Island College briefly answered, Alexander struck again for her second goal of the afternoon. Holohan added another player-up goal — her second of the day, assisted by Teresa Sheedy (Quincy, Mass.) — before DeMarco closed out the third with a timely finish off a Holohan assist, pushing the advantage to 10-4 heading into the final frame.

Rhode Island College mounted a spirited fourth-quarter charge, scoring three goals to close within four, but McAleavey answered with a free position goal of her own to restore breathing room. UMass Boston's defense, anchored by backup goalkeeper Anette Bennet-Tucker (New Bedford, Mass.) — who took over in the third quarter and made several key stops down the stretch — held firm to secure the first conference win of the season, and the second victory between the pipes in her first year with the Beacs.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Five Beacons found the back of the net twice in a total team effort, with Alexander, Mazzone, Holohan, McAleavey, and DeMarco each posting multi-goal outings to power the win.
• Alexander added an assist to her two goals for a three-point day, including a free position conversion.
• Mazzone scored both of her goals on special situations and added an assist.
• Holohan went 2-for-2 on player-up opportunities and added two assists for a four-point afternoon.
• McAleavey won five draw controls to fuel UMass Boston possessions and capped her day with two goals.
• UMass Boston's player-up unit went a perfect 3-for-3, converting every power play opportunity Rhode Island College gifted them.
• The Beacons scored five free position or player-up goals in the second quarter alone, turning a 3-1 deficit into a 6-3 halftime lead.
• Bennet-Tucker stepped in during the third quarter and made multiple saves down the stretch to preserve the victory.

UP NEXT

UMass Boston returns to action Friday, April 3, hosting its next Little East Conference contest on the Charles River Campus of UMass Amherst in Newton, MA, against the Eastern Connecticut State Warriors, with the first draw scheduled for 1:00 PM.

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