PAXTON, Mass. – Senior Cailin Flannery (Medford, N.J.) scored two goals Saturday morning to lead Lasell College past Anna Maria College, 4-1, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) field hockey action at Amcat Field.

The Lasers won their fifth game in a row to improve to 9-4 overall, and moved to a tie with Saint Joseph's College (Maine) for first place in the GNAC at 4-0. Anna Maria dropped to 4-6 overall and 1-2 in conference play.

Lasell jumped out on top with three goals in the first 18 minutes. Senior Riley Musial (Clinton, Conn.) put the Lasers on the scoreboard six minutes into the game, with an assist from junior Sam Taylor (Hanover, Mass.). Flannery doubled the lead at the 15-minute mark with her first of the game, and sophomore Megan Horrigan (Wakefield, Mass.) followed three minutes later to make it 3-0, with an assist from sophomore Liz Polimou (Harvard, Mass.) Lasell out-shot the home team in the first half, 10-0.

Anna Maria finally broke through three minutes into the second half when senior Lauren Lapierre (Worcester, Mass.) notched her fourth goal of the season, set up by junior Allyson Shaw (Holden, Mass). Lasell put the game away in the 10 minutes later when Flannery put home her second of the game and GNAC-leading 15th of the season, assisted by junior Mindy Esposito (Sunderland, Mass.)

Lasell finished with a 14-5 advantage in shots and a 17-4 margin in penalty corners.

Freshman goalie Sofia Rodriguez (Peabody, Mass.) earned the victory for the Lasers, making one save in 57 minutes. Sophomore Sydney Pignone (Ipswich, Mass.) made her first appearance of the season and made two stops in the final13 minutes. Freshman Nikki Streete (San Jose, Calif) made seven saves in 53 minutes for the Amcats before being replaced by classmate Cassie Micklesavage (Pottstown, Pa.)  

Lasell looks to continue its win streak Tuesday with a non-conference game at Clark University (4:00 p.m.) Anna Maria will be home again Thursday against Fitchburg State in non-conference action at 7 p.m.

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