NEWTON, Mass. – The Lasell College women's lacrosse team used a balanced team effort to defeat Rivier University Tuesday afternoon, 20-3, in the first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) game for both teams at Grellier Field.
Eleven different players scored goals for the Lasers, led by junior Jordan McComb (Cumberland, R.I.) with five goals and senior Taylor Yandow (Moretown, Vt.) with four. Junior Vanessa Pino (Methuen, Mass.) chipped in with two goals and two assists, and sophomore Jorgia Bergin (Sandwich, Mass.) and freshman Kellie Matthews (Walpole, Mass.) contributed two goals and one assist each, the first two collegiate goals for Bergin.
Lasell had a 41-11 advantage in shots, and Laser sophomore goalie Morgan Choquet (Woonsocket, R.I.) made three saves to earn the victory between the pipes. Lasell improves to 4-1 on the season (1-0 GNAC) while Rivier drops to 0-3 overall (0-1 GNAC).
Rivier junior Courtney Laperriere (Keene, N.H.) had a busy day in goal and finished with 15 saves. Freshman Stephanie Whalen (Litchfield, Mass.) scored two of the Raiders' three goals.
Pino and Matthews scored goals in the first two minutes for Lasell to stake the home team to an early lead. After sophomore Amanda Barton (Pelham, N.H.) put the Raiders on the board a minute later, Lasell ran off six consecutive goals, including three by Yandow, over the next 19 minutes to open up an 8-1 margin. The Lasers outscored Rivier 3-2 in the final eight minutes of the half to hold an 11-3 advantage at the break.
The Lasers held Rivier off the scoreboard in the second half while putting up nine goals, including two each by McComb and Bergin. Freshmen Margaux Dickinson (Meredith, N.H.) and Hannah Thurston (Hanover, Mass.) wrapped up the scoring for Lasell with their first two collegiate goals.
Lasell is slated to host Nichols College in a non-conference encounter this Thursday, March 22, but the game is in doubt due to another snow storm due Wednesday in the Boston area. Rivier's next game is scheduled for Saturday, March 24, at Mount Ida College (12 noon).
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