Newton, Mass- Amy Gervis (Randolph, NJ) scored four goals, including the game-winning goal, in the final fifteen minutes of the women's lacrosse contest today at Grellier Field between Lasell College and Emerson College, as the Lions snuck away with a 14-11 win. The Lions improve to 4-2 this season, and 1-0 in the conference, and Lasell falls to 3-4, and evens out at 1-1 in the GNAC.
Emerson attacked first as Katie Peters (Acton, Mass.) rocketed in the first goal just 1:28 into the contest off a pass from Maeghan Ross (Wrentham, Mass.). Jenna Stint (Auburn, NH) answered for Lasell with a diving goal from a cross-crease pass from Caitlyn Murphy (Katonah, NY). Lexi Giatrelis (Mashpee, Mass.) put Lasell on top with a subsequent goal just one minute later. Midway through the first half, the Lions had even the score back to 2-all with a mark by Ross, who traveled from before midfield to score unassisted.
The teams continued to play evenly matched throughout the remaining period with each team scoring three more goals apiece, including one each on a penalty shot. Giatrelis put in a free position shot while the Lasers were man-up with less than fifteen minutes to play in the half. Ross replied with another unassisted mark just 55 seconds later. Tina Canavan (Stonington, Conn.) fought through defensive traffic to shoot in the lower right corner past the Lions goalkeeper Kristen DeTroia (Bridgewater, NJ) for Lasell's fourth, followed by Laura Miley (Cranston, RI) on a penalty shot for Emerson, and another Ross tally. Giatrelis shot down field to find Murphy in front of Emerson's net at 7:02, who notched the final goal of the half, evening the score back out to 5-5.
Lasell broke out with two quick goals to take a 7-5 advantage after the break. However, Gervis closed the gap back within one with her first score of the game. The Lasers answered with three more goals to take the biggest lead of the game 10-6. Erika McGrath (Saco, ME) scored once and Murphy scored the other two Lasell goals during that time.
It was at the 17 minute mark that Emerson staged their comeback. Monica Carroll (Reading, Mass.) and Gervis each scored twice in a three minute span to tie the game once again at ten. Murphy's made her way through a crowd to score the Lasers' final goal of the game, and put them up again 11-10. However, Emerson's Katie Dodge (West Newbury, Mass.) tied up the game for the last time, and Gervis created an isolation to score the game winner, with 7:59 left.
Emerson outshot Lasell by a narrow 36-30 margin, and also held a slight advantage in ground balls, 19-18. Lasell had an edge in draw controls, winning 15 to Emerson's 12, with Canavan and Meredith Hessler (Middletown, RI) each controlling four.
Murphy efforts totaled six points, with five goals and an assist. Giatrelis and Stitt each added two goals. Defensively, Cassandra Haase (Ridgewood, NJ) put in a tremendous effort, causing five turnovers and also gathering 6 ground balls. Kristin Coderre (Monson, Mass.) picked up 16 saves in the net for the Lasers.
For the visitors, in addition to Gervis' five goals, Ross added five points with four goals and an assist. DeTroia collects the win making 12 saves in the contest.
Lasell will celebrate senior day on Saturday, March 28th in a home GNAC contest against the Blue Jays of St. Joseph's College (CT). Game time is 3:00 p.m., on Grellier Field.