STANDISH, Maine – Saint Joseph's College of Maine proved too strong for the Lasell University field hockey team Saturday afternoon, downing the Lasers 3-0 in a key Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) contest at the SJC Athletic Complex.

The Monks, four-time defending GNAC champions and this year's preseason favorites, improve to 7-2 overall and 3-0 in conference play. The Lasers, who have lost to St. Joe's in the last three GNAC championship games and were picked second in this year's preseason poll, suffered their first conference loss of the season and drop to 4-6 overall and 3-1 in the GNAC.

St. Joe's controlled play throughout the game, holding the Lasers without a shot while pumping 40 total shots and 26 shots on the Lasell goal. Freshman goalie Courtney Tello (Nashua, N.H.) did all she could to keep Lasell in the game, matching her season high with 23 saves.

Three different players scored goals for the Monks. Freshman Abbie Jacques (Mount Vernon, Maine) and senior Meghan Hill (Brookline, N.H.) gave the hosts all the offense they would need with second quarter goals, and senior Emma Rutledge (Alfred, Maine) rounded out the scoring with a third-quarter strike.

The Lasers will look to bounce back on Wednesday with a GNAC matchup at Anna Maria College, beginning at 6 p.m. The Monks will be home again on Wednesday against the only other unbeaten GNAC team, Colby-Sawyer College (8-1, 5-0) in a battle for first place, beginning at 6 p.m.

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