Newton, Mass (4/9/13) – The Lasell College men's lacrosse team shook off a slow start to send their senior class off in style as the recorded a 26-12 victory over Emerson College in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon. Lasell improved their record to 7-6 for the 2013 campaign and 6-1 in GNAC games while Emerson fell to 2-8 overall and 1-7 in league contests.
On a day that began by honoring eight Lasell seniors in their final regular season home game, it was a trio of sophomores that led the Lasers offensive outburst. Andy Puopolo (Duxbury, Mass.) netted seven goals and added a pair of assists in the victory, while Robbie Palazzo (Redding, Conn.) scored five times and assisted another goal, and Dylan Fernandes chipped in with four goals. Casey Sullivan (Waterford, Conn.) scored twice and assisted on two goals for Lasell, who also got two goals from Dan Clark (Scarborough, Maine) and Mike Dupont (Dover, N.H.). Jake LaMorte (Walpole, Mass.) and Pat Egan (Glen Rock, N.J.) each set up a pair of goals on the afternoon. David Walen (Longmeadow, Mass.)made 11 saves in three quarters of work to earn the victory in the cage for Lasell, while Chris Thomas-Ikier (Burlington, Mass.) made a pair of saves in a quarter of work in relief.
The Lasers outshot the visiting Lions 56-34 on the day while holding a 43-20 edge in groundballs in the contest.
Nicholas Kitsos led the way for Emerson with four goals and two assists, Max Smith chipped in with three goals and two helpers, and Brady Darragh scored three times in the contest. Clayton Fisk was credited with six saves while taking the loss, and Donald Welch made two saves in relief.
Emerson opened the scoring with a goal by Kitsos two minutes into the game, and the Lions controlled the ball in the game's opening five minutes of action. Lasell began to shake off their slow start, scoring three times in the final 1:45 of the opening quarter to take a 3-2 lead at the break.
A high scoring second period saw Lasell begin to distance themselves from Emerson, taking an 11-5 lead on consecutive goals by Atticus Robert (concord, N.H.) and Puopolo with 2:40 remaining in the first half.
Emerson closed the second half on a three goal run to cut the Lasers lead to 11-8 at the halftime intermission.
After Palazzo and Smith traded goals in the opening three minutes of the third quarter, the Lasers unleashed a barrage of goals to break open a 12-9 contest. Lasell outscored Emerson 8-1 over the final 10:40 of the third quarter to take a commanding 20-10 lead into the final period. Lasell tacked on six more goals in the final quarter bringing home the 26-12 victory.
Saturday's home game was the final regular season home game for Brendan Ham (Scarborough, Maine), Dan Clark, Atticus Robert, Tyler Silliman (Windsor, Conn.), Matthew Keiler (Salem, Mass.), Jake LaMorte, Gavin O'Dell (Groton, Mass.), and Ladson Shaello-Johnson (Binghamton, N.Y.)
The Lasers will finish their regular season schedule with a pair of GNAC road games, traveling to Emmanuel College on Tuesday April 16th for a 7:00 p.m. match-up with the Saints before visiting the Mustangs of Mount Ida in the regular season finale for both teams on Saturday April 20th at 3:00 p.m.
ci� n�� 8t Puccilli (Milford, Conn.) each notched three singles at the plate for the Falcons while driving in a run each. Urciuoli also stole a pair of bases in the contest. Jackie Medina (Bridgeport, Conn.) worked the full eight innings on the slab for the Falcons and earning the victory while holding Lasell to two runs on nine hits and six walks while fanning three batters.
Lasell was first in the scoring column in the second game of the afternoon, loading the bases with a walk, double and a hit by pitch, before Antoshak walked to force in Archetto and give Lasell a 1-0 lead.
Albertus evened the score at 1-1 in the top of the third inning when they used three straight singles to push across their first run of the game.
In the bottom of the third Lasell again went on top, getting back-to-back singles with two-outs from Grady and Larghi to plate Szidat who reached on a single of her own to open the inning to lead 2-1.
Urciuoli manufactured the tying run for Albertus Magnus in the top of the fifth inning, reaching on a bunt single, stealing second and moving to third on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on a passed ball to make it 2-2 heading to the home half of the fifth inning.
Lasell stranded a pair of runners in the bottom of the fifth inning, and both teams left two runners on base in their respective at-bats in the sixth inning. Both teams were unable to mount a threat in the seventh inning and the contest headed into extra innings.
Bergin retired the first two hitter of the eighth inning, but a walk to Medina gave runners on first and second, with Figueroa being placed on second base to start the inning. Puccilli followed with a single to centerfield that plated Figueroa to put the Falcons on top 3-2.
Lasell started with Whyot on second base, and immediately advanced her to third with a sacrifice bunt to open the bottom of the eighth. After Emily DeAngelis (Shelton, Conn.) reached on an error to give Lasell runners on the corners with one out, Medina bore down and escaped the jam getting the final two outs on a popout and groundout to escape with the extra inning victory.
Albertus Magnus will be back on the diamond on Sunday April 14th when they visit Johnson and Wales University for a 12:00 p.m. GNAC doubleheader, while Lasell will visit the Saints of Emmanuel College for a GNAC double dip of their own beginning at 12:00 p.m.