BRIGHTON, Mass. – The 2022 season came to a close for the Simmons lacrosse (16-3) team falling to third-seed Johnson & Wales University (14-5) in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) semifinals, Tuesday evening. 

After using much of the first quarter as a feeling out period, the Sharks took a quick 2-0 advantage. Sophomore Moe Beauchesne connected with first-year Kat Wood 14:49 into the period for the Sharks first goal. With just under two minutes to play in the first quarter, senior Lilly Devitt found sophomore Julia Chausse in front of the net to give Simmons the two-goal lead heading into the second quarter.

Johnson & Wales scored two quick free-position goals from Taina Gamory to even the score at two, but it did not last for very long. Graduate senior Abby Stoller put the Sharks back in front, scoring on a free-position 17 seconds later. Just before the 10-minute mark of the quarter, Chausse fired a bullet to junior Emi Boedeker in front of the net to put Simmons on top by two. A minute-and-a-half later, lighting struck twice. Chausse connected with Boedeker again to take a 5-2 Sharks lead. However, the Wildcats scored three straight unanswered goals to head into half time all square at 5-5.

When the teams emerged at the start of the second half, Stoller put Simmons back in front following a free-position goal. But three consecutive goals from the Wildcats, gave Johnson & Wales a two-goal, 8-6 lead of their own. But the Sharks were not going away. For the third time in the game, Chausse found Boedeker to cut the deficit to one, 8-7, then just before the quarter ended Chausse connected with Wood for equalizer and knot up the score at 8-8.

Heading into the final 15 minutes and the scored tied, Stoller re-gained the lead for the Sharks scoring on a free-position goal. However, the Wildcats answered with a free-position goal of their own and the game was once again tied at nine. Stoller found the back of the net on another free-position goal to put the Sharks in front, 10-9 with 9:35 left, but that's when momentum shifted. The Wildcats responded scoring five straight unanswered goals to earn the 14-10 victory and head back to the GNAC Championships Game on Saturday.

SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS

• Sophomore attacker Julia Chausse led way tallying five points, with a goal and four assists, including three to junior midfielder Emi Boedeker.
• Graduate senior Abby Stoller registered four goals for the Sharks, while winning five draw controls.
• Sophomore defender Moe Beauchesne notched a career single-game best tallying four caused turnovers and four ground balls.
• First-year attacker Kat Wood was one of four players to score in the game, recording a pair of goals.

GAME NOTES

• Simmons drops to 9-2 all-time against Johnson & Wales.
• The Sharks were successful on 19 of 21 clear attempts, while scooping up 19 ground balls.
• Johnson & Wales won the draw control battle, 16-12.