North Andover, Mass. – Senior attacker Sarah Hutchings (Marcellus, N.Y./Marcellus) tallied five points to lead the Le Moyne College women's lacrosse team to an 8-7 victory over Merrimack College in Northeast Conference action on Saturday afternoon at Duane Stadium.

"Another close one for the Phins today," said head coach Liz Beville. "I'm excited that we were able to win this game in regulation! Merrimack was a tough opponent and showed us what we need to continue to work on moving forward."

Merrimack opened the game's scoring 3:22 into the contest as Sophie Scearbo finished off a feed from Natalie Calkins.

Le Moyne, which improves to 10-0 all-time against the Warriors in conference action, answered with the next two goals. Senior attacker Reilly Geer (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill) knotted the score at one by converting a free-position shot with 10:46 remaining in the opening quarter. Just under four minutes later, sophomore midfielder Sara Hunter (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) recorded her second goal of the season after collecting a feed from Hutchings.

Scearbo evened the score for the final time with 1:42 left off a dish from Kaitlin Roche.

Following almost nine and one-half minutes of scoreless play to start the second quarter, the Dolphins scored twice in 1:42. Hutchings put her team in front at the 5:38 mark after receiving a pass from sophomore attacker Bella Sampo (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill). She followed by converting a free-position shot with 3:56 remaining for her team-best 14th goal of the season.

Scearbo netted her third goal of the half with 1:15 left off a free-position shot to get the Warriors back within one.

Geer gave the Dolphins a 5-3 lead at the intermission by scoring with 15 seconds to go after collecting a pass from Hutchings.

The Dolphins took their first three-goal lead of the game with 12:24 left in the third quarter as junior attacker Grace Detor (Syracuse, N.Y./West Genesee) scored her seventh goal of the season off a pass from classmate Reagan McQuade (Endwell, N.Y./Maine-Endwell).

Scearbo answered five minutes later with her fourth goal of the contest.

Sampo completed the quarter's scoring with 4:10 left after receiving a pass in an extra-player situation from Hutchings.

Just under six minutes into the fourth quarter, Scearbo pulled the Warriors within 7-5.

Hunter extended Le Moyne's lead back to three with 5:47 remaining by scoring off of a free-position shot.

Only 30 seconds later, Calkins got her team back within two.

Following a combined five turnovers between the teams, the Warriors cut their deficit to just one with 1:06 remaining as Scearbo netted a free-position shot for her sixth tally of the contest.

Merrimack won the ensuing draw, but Detor forced Scearbo into a turnover with 37 seconds left and collected the loose ball.

After calling timeout with 31 seconds left, the Dolphins ran the clock out to seal their third straight one-goal victory.

Fifth-year goalkeeper Paige Crandall (Adams, N.Y./South Jefferson) registered seven saves, including four in the opening quarter, for her 49th career win between the pipes. With the victory, Crandall passes Kelly Fucillo '12 for the third-most wins by a Dolphin in the program's history. Hayley Kowalczyk made two saves in the second quarter and three in the fourth for the Warriors in the setback.

Le Moyne (4-4, 3-0 NEC), which has won 18 straight Division I conference games, is back home on Wednesday against FDU at 2:00 p.m.