BRIGHTON, Mass. – Simmons lacrosse (13-3, 11-1 GNAC) returned to its winning ways with a convincing 19-5 victory over Elms College (6-7, 5-7 GNAC) on Saturday morning.

Before the game the Sharks recognized their 11 seniors for their dedication to the lacrosse, and when the game started it was three of those members that put them on top, 3-0 early. Graduate student Abby Stoller buried and unassisted goal before connected with fellow graduate senior Kayla Boulas a minute later. One minute after that, senior Lauren Whitman made a 3-0 game with another unassisted goal.

Midway through the quarter the Blazers scored twice, taking advantage of a pair of free positions opportunities. But it was all Sharks as they ended the period with an 8-2 lead. 

The Sharks kept their foot on the accelerator. The two teams exchanged goals early in the second before Simmons went on a 4-0 run, sparked by Whitman's second unassisted goal of the game, to take a 13-3 lead in to halftime.

When the teams returned to the field at the start of the second half, the Sharks continued to pressure the Blazers. After scooping up a turnover and taking it back down field, Stoller flipped the ball to graduate student Emily Duffley, who put the ball in the back of the net for her third goal of the season and increase the spread to 11.

Junior Julia Chausse concluded the scoring in the third quarter, with a pair of goals midway through to extend the lead to 17-3.

Sophomore Layla Drinkwater got into the scoring halfway through the final stanza of play. Along the far-side of the field, Whitman made nice toss to the second year for the Sharks' 18^th goal of the game. Fellow sophomore Frida Turriza fired the final goal into the back of the with four minutes remaining. 

Senior goalkeeper Katie Castle made her 12^th start in goal and improve to 7-0 on the season, recording six saves, while playing the first 30 minutes. Fellow senior Nicole Elliott came on for the remaining 30 and recorded four saves, including a big save on a free position attempt in the final quarter.

SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS

• Graduate senior Abby Stoller led the offense with seven points, tallying three goals and four assists. Stoller is currently ranked second amongst conference leaders in goals (72), and third in overall points (91).
• Junior Julia Chausse finished with four points – two goals and two assists – as she is the conference leader in assists (47).
• Sophomore Frida Turriza led all scorers with four goals.
• Senior Katie Castle earned her seventh victory of the season and stays atop the conference leaders with a 4.86 goals-against average and a .563 save percentage.

UP NEXT
Simmons concludes the regular season next Wednesday, April 26 when they travel to Providence, Rhode Island for a 7 p.m. tilt against Johnson & Wales University.