Lasell Field Hockey wins in overtime, hands WPI first loss of season

NEWTON, Mass. – Senior Julia Franzik (Wallingford, Conn.) scored on a rebound a minute and a half into overtime Tuesday afternoon as Lasell College rallied from a two-goal deficit to post a 4-3 victory over WPI in a non-conference field hockey game at rainy Grellier Field.

Junior Sam Taylor (Hanover, Mass.) tallied two goals and an assist as Lasell won for the fourth time in its last five games to improve to 6-4 on the season. WPI was handed its first loss of the season to fall to 7-1.

Senior Cailin Flannery (Medford, N.J.) got the first shot off for Lasell in the overtime, but WPI senior keeper Karen Mushrall (Mariaville, Maine) made the save. Franzik was there to knock in the rebound for the game-winning score for the home team.

The Lasers battled back from an early 2-0 deficit. Sophomore Abby O'Sullivan (Walpole, Mass.) gave WPI a lead eight minutes into the game with her team-leading 12th of the season, and classmate Kaitlyn Hess (Milford, N.H.) converted a penalty corner in the 15th minute with a goal set up by freshman Angie Ferro (Northboro, Mass.) and junior Bridget Sullivan (Wilmington, Mass.). Those were the only two goals of the first half, with each team taking five shots.

Lasell battled back with three unanswered goals in the second half, despite being out-shot 15-3. Junior Sam Taylor (Hanover, Mass.) scored the first Laser two goals to tie up the game, the first on a penalty corner served up by junior Mindy Esposito (Sunderland, Mass.) in the 41st minute, and then on a strong individual effort 10 minutes later.

The Lasers pulled ahead with just under five minutes remaining in regulation when Taylor sent a pass from the left sideline through the crease, and Flannery redirected the ball into the goal from the far post. The lead would last only a minute and a half until junior Shannon Hynes (Auburn, Mass.) scored the equalizer for WPI to set up the overtime.

WPI finished with a 20-10 advantage in shots and a 16-7 margin in penalty corners. Freshman Sofia Rodriguez (Peabody, Mass.) made nine saves to earn the win in the Lasell goal, while Mushrall finished with three saves for the visitors.

Lasell is home again on Thursday for a non-conference affair against UMass Dartmouth at 3:30 p.m. at Grellier Field. WPI looks to bounce back with a NEWMAC game Saturday at Springfield College at noon.

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