HENNIKER, N.H. - Sophomore midfielder Kasey Fries (Bridgewater, Mass.) tallied three goals to lead the Simmons College women's lacrosse team in a 9-7 loss to host New England College this afternoon at Don Melander Field in Henniker, N.H. The Sharks fall to 1-1 on the season, while the Pilgrims improve to 1-2.
Fries added a ground ball and a draw control to her day as well for Simmons. First year attack Missie Maiewski (Northampton, Mass.) netted a pair of goals to go with a draw control, while classmate Analise Giarrusso (Hingham, Mass.) scored a goal, assisted on another, picked up four ground balls, caused a pair of turnovers and won two draw controls. Senior midfielder Ashley Sheehan (North Attleboro, Mass.) also found the back of the net in addition to four draw controls, three ground balls and a caused turnover. First year goalie Kenzie Rogers (Bourne, Mass.) made seven saves for the Sharks.
Junior midfielder Kasondra Moniz (East Providence, R.I.) led all scorers with five goals for New England College and added a ground ball and a draw control. Senior attacker Gabriella Bigos (Branford, Conn.) chipped in with a pair of goals, four draw controls and a caused turnover, while junior midfielder Allison Granata (Norwalk, Conn.) recorded a game-high eight ground balls and three caused turnovers to go with a draw control. Junior goalie Mackenzie Meegan (Phoenix, Ariz.) stopped nine shots to earn the victory for the Pilgrims.
Simmons took a 3-0 lead within the first 11 minutes of play with goals each from Fries, Sheehan and Giarrusso. Fries opened the scoring just 13 ticks into the match. Moniz scored the game's next three goals for New England College as part of a five-goal run to take a 5-3 lead with 2:07 left in the first half. Bigos gave the home team a 4-3 lead with a score at the 3:56 mark, before Moniz scored her fourth of the match with a player advantage.
The Sharks tallied the final two goals of the period to knot the contest at 5-5 before the intermission. Maiewski scored with 1:11 showing on the clock and Fries snuck a score in with just six ticks remaining in the half.
Moniz and Fries traded goals within the opening eight minutes of the second stanza to keep the tally tied at 6-6. First year midfielder Alana Scott (Huntington, Vt.) gave the Pilgrims the lead again, but Maiewski took a feed from senior midfielder Alexia Malone Oliver (Bristol, R.I.) and found the back of the net to pull Simmons even at 7-7 with 17:51 to play in the game.
Bigos gave New England College the lead for good at the 12:55 mark, before senior attacker Elizabeth Bois (Westbrook, Maine) scored with 8:18 to go for a Pilgrim insurance goal and the final tally of the day.
The Sharks return to action on Thursday, March 8 when they host Smith College at 7:00 p.m. on Winsor Field in Boston, while New England College hosts Bay Path College on the same day at 4:00 p.m.
