Taylor’s hat trick leads Lasell Field Hockey past New England College

NEWTON, Mass. – Junior Sam Taylor (Hanover, Mass.) collected a hat trick and one assist, setting up the Lasell College field hockey team for a 6-2 victory over New England College Pilgrims on Tuesday at Grellier Field.

The Lasers improve their record 4-3 overall, while the Pilgrims drop 1-6 this season.

Taylor posted the third hat trick of her career, and the first since Lasell defeated Simmons College 3-0 in the last regular season game of 2017.

Lasell got on the board on Taylor's first goal 15 minutes into the game, off of a cross pass from senior Cailin Flannery (Medford, N.J.). Taylor followed up with another goal five minutes later, assisted by senior Julia Franzik (Wallingford, Conn.) who rushed the ball in from the midfield before dishing to Taylor. Flannery swiped the ball past New England College's goalkeeper senior Christine McNeil (Pawcatuck, Conn.) unassisted, securing a 3-0 lead for the Lasers.

NEC senior Taylor Daileanes (Londonderry, N.H.) drove the ball to the back of the cage in the last minute of the first half to put New England College on the board just before the break.

Taylor captured her hat trick early in the second half. During a crowded play in front of NEC's goal, senior Riley Musial (Clinton, Conn.) escaped with the ball, assisting Taylor who finished the play, popping it into the cage. Senior Krissie Borrero (Ossining, N.Y.) responded with an unassisted goal for NEC less than a minute later to cut the margin to 4-2.

Sophomore Megan Horrigan (Wakefield, Mass.) and Musial both scored one goal apiece as insurance goals for Lasell. Horrigan moved the ball into the arch and shot the unassisted goal into the right corner of the cage. Musial's goal was off the deflect from Taylor in the last minute of the game.

The Lasers outshot the Pilgrims 23-7 and held a 7-2 advantage in penalty corners. Fresman keeper Sofia Rodriguez (Peabody, Mass.) made four saves in the second half for Lasell, in relief of classmate Makena Leazer, (Nashua, N.H.), who held down the goal in the first half.

McNeil stayed in goal for the entire 70 minutes for NEC, saving eight shots.

Lasell's next game will be at home against Salve Regina University on Thursday, September 20 at 3:30 p.m. New England College will host Colby-Sawyer College for a game under the lights on Wednesday, September 19 at 7 p.m.

-- 30 --