Email Validation check from regex code in vb.net

Imports System.Text.RegularExpressions ' add name space
    Function EmailAddressCheck(ByVal emailAddress As String) As Boolean
        Dim pattern As String = "^[a-zA-Z][\w\.-]*[a-zA-Z0-9]@[a-zA-Z0-9][\w\.-]" & _
        "*[a-zA-Z0-9]\.[a-zA-Z][a-zA-Z\.]*[a-zA-Z]$"
        Dim emailAddressMatch As Match = Regex.Match(emailAddress, pattern)
        If emailAddressMatch.Success Then
            EmailAddressCheck = True

        Else
            EmailAddressCheck = False

        End If
    End Function