NEWTON, Mass. – The Simmons University field hockey team was defeated by host Lasell University, 2-0, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference play this afternoon on Grellier Field in Newton, Mass. The Sharks fall to 7-11 overall, including 4-4 in league play, while the Lasers improve to 9-9 and 5-3 in the season finale for both teams. 

Lasell earns a first round bye as the number two seed for the upcoming GNAC Championship Tournament and will host a semifinal game at Grellier Field next Wednesday, November 6, against an opponent to be determined. Simmons secures the third seed and will host sixth-seeded Johnson & Wales University on Saturday, November 2 on Daly Field at 11:00 a.m. in the tournament's first round.

The Lasers scored both of their goals in the opening quarter and limited the Sharks to four shots for the match. Lasell finished with 16 shots, including an 8-0 advantage in the first quarter. 

Junior Rebecca Duke (Ijamsville, Md.) scored the first goal for the Lasers, putting in a rebound off a shot by Izzy Contois (Conway, Mass.) midway through the first frame for her fifth tally of the season. First year Mya Maxim (South China, Maine) doubled the Lasell lead with less than a minute to go in the period, collecting a loose ball to the right of the cage and putting in her sixth goal of the season. 

Simmons had a good scoring opportunity in the second quarter on a penalty corner but a shot from sophomore forward Emily Plummer (San Diego, Calif.) went just wide. 

Senior forward Olivia Trull (Lowell, Mass.) finished with a pair of shots for the Sharks. 

Junior keeper Lucy McNamara (Brewster, Mass.) stopped 10 shots to record her eighth double-digit save effort for the season for Simmons, while sophomore goalie Sofia Rodriguez (Peabody, Mass.) made two saves to post her second shutout of the season for the Lasers.