BOSTON, Mass. -- Simmons soccer hit the crossbar twice in the final five minutes of the second half but were unable to convert, as the Lasell College Lasers went on to win, 2-1 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference play Wednesday evening.

The Sharks controlled the opening half of play, outshooting the Lasers 22-13. Senior Justine Beauchamp (Exeter, N.H.) narrowly missed the goal wide on a shot from just outside the box and Kristyn Heuslein (Manchester, N.H.) shot a free kick, which Lasers keeper Leah Pappalardo jumped to deflect to keep the game scoreless.

Senior Ally Ayotte (Litchfield, N.H.) and junior Desh Perera (Reading, Mass.) each took quality attempts on goal but the Lasers Jill Greaney and Kayla Lynch were able to make the stops needed to send the ball back into transition. Lasell took a 1-0 lead at 34:13 when MaryKate Dunphy sent a ball across the box to Bridget Lynch who beat Sharks goalkeeper Briana Hayes (Manorville, N.Y.) on the right side. Heuslein had two more free kicks before the half but both went just high of the net and the Lasers maintained the lead into halftime.

In the second half, the Sharks again dominated the play, outshooting the Lasers 14-9. But it was Lasell who struck again with a Lynch's second tally of the night off an assist by Sam Pek. Less than six minutes later, Perera dribbled the ball down the right side and sent a cross ball into the box as Keri Acheson (Peabody, Mass.) buried the ball past Pappalardo off a header to cut the score in half.

The Sharks continued to lay on the pressure as time elapsed, hitting the cross bar twice and a post in the final five minutes of the game. In the 82nd minute, Alma-Lynn Dupont (Bowling Green, Ohio) hit the crossbar and the ball dropped to the turf just outside the goal line and the play continued. The Lasers had a final attempt to put the game away by Mary Farley but the ball went wide and the Sharks transitioned for a final attempt as the clock expired.

With the win, the Lasers move to 3-1 while the Sharks fall to 1-3. Pappalardo made 16 saves for the win and Hayes posted 15 in the loss. Simmons returns to the field on Saturday, September 15th when they travel to GNAC foe Saint Joseph's College in Maine.