NEWTON, MA- Christine Thornton (Canton, MA) recorded an outstanding 28 saves between the pipes for Lasell College today in non-conference field hockey action against Drew University which fell in the visitors favor, 6-1, despite Thornton's record setting performance. The Lasers senior goalkeeper broke her own previous institution single-game record of 23 saves in Sunday's contest on Grellier Field as Lasell lands at 0-3 this season. Drew's overall record evens out at 2-2 with the win.
Thornton faced a barrage of shots from the visitors who commanded the field with a whopping 56 total attempts in the game. Senior forward Meghan Howlett (Garwood, NJ) produced a game-best six points in the match, scoring twice and adding two assists. Sophomore forward Brooke Gagliano (Freehold, NJ) added five points on two goals and one assist. Danielle Daminiski (Marlborough, MA) and Ashley Passamante (Glassboro, NJ) enhanced the Rangers win with a goal apiece.
Lasell's first tally of the year was recorded by junior midfielder Katelyn Fabri (Fairfield, CT) midway through the first half while freshman middie Meaghan Collier (Sidney, ME) was credited with the assist.
Howlett put up the first goal, striking at 14:42 after dribbling across the end line to knock the ball into the opposite side of the goal.
Lasell leveled the score just over two minutes later when they were awarded their first penalty corner in the Rangers back field. Collier began the play, passing off to Fabri at the top of the circle to cross one past Christiana Carlini (Amherst, NH) in the Rangers net.
Drew continued to keep possession in their control for the following few minutes leading to their second goal at 21:55. This time, Gagliano scored the goal on a give-and-go from Howlett down the middle of the field.
Drew capped scoring in the first half to take a 3-1 lead into the break after Howlett's second goal with just one and a half minutes left to play in the frame. Gagliano and Howlett teamed up again for this play as the former launched a pass across the field to set up Howlett for the quick release into the cage.
In the second half of play, Drew tacked on two more goals before the 50 minute mark to produce a 5-1 lead. Gagliano started the action, finding an open shot at the top of the circle and firing one in. Passamante added the fifth goal by tipping in a shot attempt by Melissa Boyd (Hellertown, PA), at 48:22, and Kaminski finished the day taking a feed from Howlett at 61:41 to complete scoring.
Carlini picked up the win in goal for the Rangers, making one save.
Lasell will travel to Wheelock on Thursday, September 15th for another non-conference tussle, set to begin at 8:00 p.m.
