BOSTON, Mass. -- In a battle for first place atop the conference, Simmons Lacrosse fell to the Lasell College Lasers, 15-12 in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference battle Wednesday evening in the Division III Week Game of the Week.
The Lasers struck first as Britney Wuorio scored less than a minute into the game unassisted. Stephanie Oliveri (Waltham, Mass.) scored off a free position shot and gave the Sharks the lead off her second goal of the night less than a minute later. The Sharks took a 5-1 lead as Rachel Wallace (Braintree, Mass.), Hannah McGoldrick (Newton, Mass.) and Megan Coffey (Wilmot Flat, N.H.) each tallied for Simmons.
With less than fifteen minutes remaining in the first half, the Lasers began to chip away at the Sharks lead, as Bridget Doherty scored unassisted and Bridget Munnelly added two. Rebecca Stanton tied the game at five off an assist from Ashley Slattery with 7:30 to play.
The Sharks took back the lead as Wallace rolled the crease and buried a shot past Lasell goalkeeper Sammy Long. Wallace put the Sharks up by two less than 15 seconds later and Ashley Sheehan added a third Sharks goal for an 8-5 lead. Stanton scored the Lasers to cut the lead to two and Taylor Dooley added a final Lasers goal of the half with just nine seconds on the clock for one goal Sharks lead at the half, 8-7.
In the second stanza, Lasell's Bridget Doherty scored first to tie the game at eight but Wallace was awarded a free position shot and beat Long again for her fourth goal of the night. Caitlyn Brecher tied the game a nine off an assist from Britney Wuorio to start a five-goal run for the Lasers first lead of the night.
Stephanie Oliveri broke up Lasell's offense as she netted her third goal off a free position shot and Callie Warnock (Kingston, Mass.) put the Sharks within two off a pass from Oliveri. But Wuorio scored on a free position shot to regain a three-goal lead, 14-11. Wallace scored with five minutes remaining to again cut the Lasers lead to two but Ashely Slattery scored with 4:07 remaining to keep the Lasers undefeated in the GNAC.
Simmons goalkeeper Crystal Derosier (Kingston, Mass.) was stellar in goal with five saves for the Sharks, whileLong recorded 12 saves in the win. The Sharks held a slight advantage in draw controls 15-14, and in shots 29-26.
The Sharks return to action on Saturday, April 13th at 11:00 a.m. where the team will honor their seniors in a GNAC matchup versus Mount Ida College.