MANSFIELD, Conn. – Sophomore attack Destinee Carey and freshman Lindsey Eanniello each had six goals and an assist and sophomore midfielder Raquel Heitor picked up seven ground ball to lead the Western Connecticut State University women's lacrosse team to a 19-17 Little East Conference victory over Eastern Connecticut State University Tuesday afternoon at the Mansfield Outdoor Complex.

By ending a two-game losing streak, Western (9-6, 4-1 Little East) guarantees itself no worse than a home game in the first round of the conference tournament, scheduled for next Tuesday. Eastern's (4-11, 2-4 Little East) fifth loss in its last six games  and third in its last four meetings with the Colonials guarantees IT of playing a first-round tournament road game. Eastern was eliminated in the first round of the playoff for the first time in 2014.

Averaging 17 goals per match this year, Western scored off the opening draw with 13 seconds expired and never trailed, withstanding an Eastern rush over the final 12 minutes that sliced an eight-goal lead to the final two-goal margin.

Trailing 18-10, the Warriors netted seven of the games' final eight goals. Sophomore midfielder Paige Schneider's (East Lyme) team-leading fourth goal of the match with 2:05 left made it 19-16. Eastern freshman midfielder Katie Calnen (Granby) won the ensuing draw but the teams combined for five turnovers over the next two minutes, Eastern getting only one shot over the next two minutes before freshman attack Katie Burke (South Windsor) broke through inside the final ten seconds for a final anti-climactic goal.

Carey, Eanniello and senior attack Kelsey Heaton (New Milford) combined for 16 of their team's goals, improving their combined goal total this year to 169. Heaton has 67 and Carey and Eanniello both went over the 50-goal plateau, giving them each 51 each.

Eastern sophomore defender Devyne Doran (South Kingstown, RI) won seven draws for the Warriors and sophomore goalie Taylor Emmerson (Colchester) made 12 saves, picked up six ground balls and caused four turnovers with interceptions.

Heaton won six draws and Eanniello four, with Heaton adding four goals and two assists.

Freshman goalie Nicole Petruzzi made six saves in the first half and left with a 10-9 halftime lead. She returned in place of sophomore Melissa O'Donnell after Burke's second goal of the match made it 18-13 with 9:39 left, and closed out the victory.

Playing in the final home games of their careers, four-year seniors Olivia Mullen (Bethel) and Meg Eremita (South Windsor) and their families were honored in a pre-game ceremony.