Lasers Drop NAC Opener to Monks

Standish, ME- Saint Joseph's College of Maine posted a 3-1 North Atlantic Conference victory over Lasell College field hockey on Saturday afternoon at Lakeside Field.  The game marked the first of NAC play this season for both teams, as the Monks improve to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in league play while the Lasers drop to 1-3 overall and 0-1 in the conference.

Tia Pratt (Oxford Hills, ME) accounted for Lasell's single offensive output, scoring unassisted in the 63^rd minute. St. Joseph's defense held Lasell to just three shots in the contest, while the Monks offense created 15 shot opportunities, including 11 on-target chances.  With the Monks pacing the game for the majority of the minutes, Lasell's junior keeper Christine Thornton (Canton, MA) proved to be on task with eight saves in the losing effort.

Sarah Bartell (Exeter, NH) put St. Joseph's on top taking an adeptly placed pass from Courtney Rague (Old Orchard Beach, ME) from the left flank after 23 minutes of play.  Rague then provided the Monks with a 2-0 cushion into the halftime break taking help from Stephanie Lombardo (Steep Falls, ME).

Rachelle Messuri (Atkinson, NH) completed scoring for the hosts in the 61^st minute off an assist from Melanie Allen (Jackson, NH). 

Pratt capped the scoring on a Laser penalty corner, collecting a loose ball in front of the Monks net and beating keeper Meaghan Johnson (Portland, ME).

Lasell returns to action on Wednesday, September 15^th, with a home contest against Plymouth State University at 4:00 p.m. on Grellier Field.