NEWTON, Mass. – The Lasell University women's soccer team used an all-around team effort Saturday afternoon to defeat Norwich University, 5-0, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) match at Taylor Field.
Four different players scored for the Lasers, as well as an own goal credited to the home team. Lasell improves to 6-9 overall and 6-3 in GNAC play, while Norwich drops to 5-9-1 overall and 4-5-1 in the conference.
Freshman Ariana Bunch (Newton, Mass.) led the way for the Laser offense with a goal and an assist, marking her first career goal. Sophomore Darian Morgan (Hoosick Falls, N.Y.) also scored her first career goal, and seniors Melissa Vasquez (Pawtucket, R.I.) and Caitlin Rotonnelli (Meredith, N.H.) celebrated Senior Day with first-half scores to put the Lasers ahead to stay.
Vasquez scored the first goal of the day in the 19th minute to give Lasell the lead, and Rotonnelli doubled the lead with an assist from Bunch in the final minute of the first half to make it 2-0 at the break. The Lasers dominated the stat sheet, outshooting the visitors 14-0 in the first 45 minutes.
It was more of the same in the second half. Bunch pushed the lead to 3-0 a little over a minute into the half, and an own goal in the 70th minute extended the margin to 4-0. Morgan rounded out the scoring two minutes later, with an assist from freshman Bobbi O'Guin (Newton, Mass.)
The Lasers finished with a 33-1 shot advantage. Sophomore Kim Watt (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) had a busy day in the Norwich goal, finishing with 18 saves.
The day started with Lasell honoring its six seniors – Olivia Austin (Burlington, Mass.), Kyla Bragg (Sanford, Maine), Sarah Cullen (Marblehead, Mass.), Caitlin Rotonnelli (Meredith, N.H.), Melissa Vasquez (Pawtucket, R.I.), Caitlin Rotonnelli (Meredith, N.H.), and Hayden Wheeler (Hubbardston, Mass.).
Lasell returns to action on Tuesday, October 22, with a GNAC contest at Colby-Sawyer College (3:30 p.m.). Norwich will also be on the road on Tuesday with a 3 p.m. GNAC game at Anna Maria College.
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