NEWTON, Mass. (4/13/15) – The Lasell College women's lacrosse teamed earned a crucial Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) victory against Johnson and Wales University (.R.I.) 15-9 on Monday afternoon at Grellier Field. The Lasers jump to No. 2 in conference standings at 6-1 and 8-5 overall, while the Wildcats suffer their second GNAC loss at 5-2 and drop to 10-2 this spring.

Senior Toni Minelli (Newington, Conn.) and freshman Taylor Yandow (Moretown, Vt.) dominated the field with a game-high five goals apiece. Junior Ashlee Pechulis (Westfield, Mass.) recorded her fifth hat-trick of the season, while junior Bridget Doherty (Franklin, Mass.) and senior Bri Daley (Watertown, Conn.) each found the back of the cage once for the Lasers.

The Wildcats were paced by sophomore Lydia Knapp (Glens Falls, N.Y.) who rattled off four goals and one assist, while junior Marissa Hart (Cohoes, N.Y.) threw in a pair of goals in the loss. Single markers were also scored by freshmen Raquel Pederzani (Coventry, R.I.), Elizabeth Tonn (Wantagh, N.Y.) and Gabrielle Vasile (Milford, Mass.).

Both teams traded goals in the opening five minutes of the first half, until Yandow and Pechulis teamed up for a pair of unassisted goals to give the Lasers a two-point advantage (4-2). The Wildcats chipped away at the lead and were able to score the equalizer with 8:00 left in the first half, as Pederzani dished the ball to Tonn on the free-position attempt.

Junior Bridget Munnelly (Bellingham, Mass.) wouldn't allow the visitors to be in close range for long, as she grabbed the next two draw controls, assisting the Lasers' fifth goal of the game to Minelli. The Lasers would hold Johnson and Whales at four while recording a pair of goals to end the half (8-4), but the Wildcats were quick to respond, scoring 19 seconds into the second stanza via a free position shot from Knapp.

With 22:10 left in regulation, Chambrelli was relentless in the defensive position, causing a JWU turnover to then assist Daley's goal, giving the Lasers the 9-5 lead. Minelli (2) and Yandow teamed up to score the next three goals, before the Wildcats chipped away at the deficit to put another two points on the board.

Pechulis would score the finial Lasell goal of the game with 8:33 on the clock via a free position shot, where the Lasers' held down the defense from hence forth, until Hart picked up a ground ball and found the back of the net with 6:13 left in regulation. However, the Wildcats' effort would pan out to be unserviceable, as the Lasers closed out the game with the 15-9 victory.

Senior Alexa Katsigianis (Amherst, N.H.) stopped 12 shots in between the pipes for the Lasers, while senior keeper Genevieve Giampietro (Meriden, Conn.) stopped seven of 22 shots on frame in the losing effort for the Wildcats.

Both teams return to home-contest conference action on Wednesday, April 15 at 4:00 p.m. The Lasers will host the Blue Jays of Saint Joseph's (Conn.), as the Wildcats welcome the Falcons of Albertus Magnus.