BRIGHTON, Mass. – Simmons lacrosse (11-2, 9-0 GNAC) remains one of three teams in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) with perfect conference marks, edging out neighbor Emmanuel College (9-4, 6-3 GNAC), 19-11, on Wednesday evening.
The games are always close between these two rivals and Wednesday night was no different. Graduate senior Abby Stoller gave the Sharks a quick, two-goal advantage scoring within the first five minutes of the play. But the Saints' Livia Fedel cut the deficit in the half, burying an unassisted goal.
However, junior Julia Chausse answered with a pair of goals from sophomores Layla Drinkwater and Kat Wood to increase the Shark lead to, 4-1. Emmanuel's Ella Marschitz connected with Emily Gates with minutes remaining the period to bring the Saints back within two, 4-2, but the Sharks had an answer. Sophomore Frida found Chausse in front of the net for the fifth Shark goal before scoring herself on a free position to end the first period.
Simmons increased its lead to six, 8-2, early in the second quarter, but the Saints were not going away quietly. Emmanuel responded with three straight goals to claw their way back into the game with just over six-and-half minutes left to play in the half. With a three-goal cushion, Stoller sent the Sharks into the locker room with a 9-5 advantage.
At the start of the second half, Emmanuel's Deja Srimouksavanh brought the Saints back within thee, 9-6, but the Sharks rattled off three unanswered goals. Entering the game three assists shy of tying the program record, Chausse found sophomore Maddie Desimio-Maloney ignited a 3-0 run. Three minutes later, déjà vu struck as she capped the run and tied Stephanie Olivieri for the program mark of 77 assists to take a 12-6 lead.
But not never going away, the Saints answered with three straight player-up goals to pull themselves back within three, and trail by only 12-9 heading into the final quarter.
The final quarter of the play belonged to the Sharks, outscoring the Saints, 5-1, through the majority of the period. With seven minutes remaining in the period, Chausse became the sole Simmons' record holder for assists finding senior Sammi Hogan for her 78th career assist. A minute later she added number 79 pairing with Stoller to put the Sharks in front, 17-10.
Senior Nicole Elliott moved to 3-1 on the season registering 10 saves in 60 minutes in goal.
SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS
- Junior Julia Chausse became Simmons all-time career record holder in assists, with her fourth quarter assist to Sammi Hogan. She finished with five assists.
- Graduate senior Abby Stoller surpassed her career single-game high, registering nine goals against the Saints.
- Senior Riley Wasiuk recorded three caused turnovers, coming one shy of the progrm's all-time mark – held by Lauren Williams '19 (74).
- Senior Emi Boedeker eclipsed her career single-game best winning 11 draws.
UP NEXT
Simmons returns to the field on Saturday, April 15 when they travel to Paxton, Massachusetts to face Anna Maria College at 11 a.m.