BRIGHTON, Mass. – Simmons lacrosse (2-1, 1-0 GNAC) opened Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) with a convincing, 14-3, win over the University of St. Joseph (Conn.) on Saturday afternoon.
The Sharks drew first blood five minutes into the contest. Graduate student Abby Stoller connected with junior Cameron Richards to put Simmons on top 1-0. The lead was short-live as the Blue Jays scored the equalizer 30 seconds later on a free position goal by Makenzie Dinger.
However, Simmons rattled off six unanswered goals as they headed into the second quarter. Sophomore Frida Turriza began the offensive attack a minute later, followed by a pair of goals by junior Marita Nothacker to give the Sharks a 4-1 lead. Stoller concluded the first quarter of play converting a player up opportunity with a free position attempt to head into the second quarter with a 5-1 lead.
Simmons continued to pile on the offense as the second period began. Stoller connected with junior Julia Chausse less than a minute into the quarter to put the Sharks up 6-1. Five minutes later, Stoller recorded her second goal of the game to increase the Shark lead to six.
USJ began to mount a mini comeback scoring back-to-back goals within three minutes of each other to cut the deficit to four. But it was as close as they would get. Stoller concluded the half with her third goal of the game with a minute left to put the Sharks back up by five, 8-3.
When the teams emerged from the locker room at the beginning of the second half, the Sharks picked up where they left off offensively. Less than minute into the third quarter, Turriza found the back of the goal increase the lead to six, 9-3. The Blue Jays kept it a six-point differential for the majority of the period before sophomore Maddie Desimio-Maloney extended the lead to seven with her second goal of the season.
The fourth quarter was all Sharks. Turriza added another two goals to finish with a game-high four goals, while Nothacker registered her third goal of the game on Chausse's game-high third assist of the game.
First-year goalie Molly Rioux earned her second win of the season, registering three saves in 48 minutes, while senior Katie Castle saw 11 minutes in net recording one save.
SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS
- Sophomore Frida Turriza recorded a career game-high four goals for four points.
- Junior Marita Nothacker and graduate senior Abby Stoller both recorded hat-tricks, scoring three goals each.
- Junior Julia Chausee led the Sharks with three assists.
- Seven different Sharks scored – Julia Chausse, Abby Stoller, Cameron Richards, Frida Turriza, Marita Nothacker, Sammi Hogan, Maddie Desimio-Maloney.
UP NEXT
Simmons returns to the field on the Ides of March, Wednesday, March 15, hosting non-conference Occidental College at 7 p.m.