Newton, Mass.- The Lasell College field hockey team finished their 2009 regular season on a rainy and cold Wednesday afternoon with a 2-1 loss to Framingham State College on Grellier Field.
The Rams dictated the tempo of the game, outshooting the Lasers 25-9. Framingham also held a significant 14-2 edge on penalty corner opportunities, which they capitalized on late in the first half for their second goal.
Framingham got on the board just before the ten minute mark when Kristen Sacco (Mendon, Mass.) took off on a breakaway, dodging through traffic in front of Lasell's net before blasting the ball into the back of the goal. The go-ahead goal was number 19 of the season for the junior forward.
Within the next four minutes, Sacco had a prime chance at pulling the Rams further ahead as she sent a rocket of a shot from the top of the arc, but this time Lasell's goalkeeper Christine Thornton (Canton, Mass.) made a spectacular save in the net.
Lasell's first shot of the game was attempted by Natasha Wood (White River, VT) after Tia Pratt (S. Paris, ME) sent a leading pass down the left sideline. Wood broke free of the Rams defense but goalie Allesha Kenyon (Westford, Mass.) was able to drive the shot away with a sliding save.
At 28:18, on Framingham's fourth penalty corner of the day, Erica Fisher (Putnam Valley, NY) fed an entry pass to Katie Wotherspoon (Stafford, Conn.) who dished to an open Kayleigh Force (Leominster, Mass.) for the Ram's second goal. The goal proved to be the game-winner in the contest, Force's second deciding goal of the year.
After a quick halftime break, the teams took the field for the final 35 minute period. Thornton was challenged seven times in the half, which included a sequence of four shots taken during a scramble over a thirty second stretch, but the sophomore goalkeeper turned away each attempt.
The score remained unchanged until the last play of the game when Lasell was awarded a penalty corner just as time ran off the clock. The Lasers took advantage of their final opportunity, as Pratt fired in a near-make which was knocked away with a defensive save by Force. Fortunately for Lasell, junior defender Amanda Gorski (Wetherfield, Conn.) was able to pick up the deflection and return fire on the Rams net for their sole goal of the contest. It was the first shot and first goal of the season for Gorski.
Framingham now holds a 13-3 record and will play their last regular season game on Friday, October 30th against Salem State College, at 3:30 p.m. The Lasers finish the regular season with a 7-11 slate and will travel to Husson University on Saturday, October 31st for the first round of the NAC tournament. The Lasers and the Eagles will play at 3:30 p.m. for the opportunity to continue on in the post-season tournament.