Lasers Upend Cadets in Pilgrim League Tilt

NEWTON, MA-- The Lasell College Lasers outscored Norwich University 8-2 in the first half, on their way to a 13-5 win in Pilgrim League men’s lacrosse action on Grellier Field this afternoon. The victory marks the fourth of the season for the Lasers, whom end the day with a 4-10 overall mark, and even out to 3-3 in the conference.  Norwich holds an 8-6 record this season, and a 1-4 Pilgrim slate.  

Senior Brian Yepez (Hillsborough, NJ), junior Chris Bulkley (Groton, CT), and freshman Andy Puopolo (Duxbury, MA) led the Lasers’ attack, combining for twelve points, as the Lasers recorded their second straight Pilgrim League victory.  Both Yepez and Bulkley finished with one goal and three assists, while Puopolo added two scores and two helpers.  Jon Elia (East Lyme, CT) also registered three points for the hosts. 

Junior Anthony Erz (Hampton, NJ) had 13-of-18 pickups at the face-off “x”, on which the Lasers dominated 14-for-22 throughout the contest.  Erz chipped in with a goal and an assist also, as well as a game-high nine ground balls. 

Eric Walsh (Weymouth, MA) was awarded the victory in Lasell’s net, playing in just thirty minutes of the contest.  Tyler Silliman (Windsor, CT) split time with Walsh and accumulated four saves in the cage. 

For Norwich, Justin Pearson (Theresa, NY), Patrick Sikora (Montpelier, VT), and Michael White (Walpole, MA) each took away two points.  Pearson and Sikora tallied two goals apiece while White dished out an assist and scored once.  Arron Canarelli (New Hartford, NY) won a total of 7-of-11 face-off chances for the Cadets and added two ground balls.  Jason Moore (Matawan, NJ) had a team-best five ground ball pickups. 

Nathan Proctor (Pleasanton, CA) was hit with the loss in the Norwich goal, stopping 10 shots along the way.  

The game started with Pearson’s mark, three minutes and 59 seconds into the game.  Pearson took a pass from Jesse Mattson (Los Angeles, CA) off a high-low cut to put Norwich ahead 1-0.  

Puopolo evened the score one minute later when Bulkley released a pass from the top of the box and located Puopolo on the right side to fire just inside the strong side post.  Sean Speciale (Hillsborough, NJ) inflicted the go-ahead goal at the five minute mark, securing a pass from Bulkley across the crease and shooting from distance for a 2-1 Laser lead at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter proved to be almost entirely Lasell’s as Norwich broke up six Lasell goals just once, with a Sikora unassisted bouncer at 7:28.  Speciale opened the half unleashing a goal from the top of the restraining box, followed by a Yepez goal driven through a double-team and connecting on Proctor’s weak side.  Elia smoked one past the Cadets next, followed by Bulkley cutting through the middle to blow by his defender and score.  Just six seconds later Erz had a clean pickup off of the face-off and raced down field for the Lasers’ seventh goal, and Puopolo put one in the back of the net to end the half, 8-2. 

The Lasers wasted no time in the third period as Elia unloaded a close range shot, boosting the Lasers’ edge to 9-2.  White executed a one-on-one situation with his defender to stop Lasell’s 5-0 run, but Sam Wilcox (Norfolk, MA) unleashed one from the top of the formation within a minute of White to increase the distance between the teams, 10-3.

Pearson and Adam Foss (Billerica, MA) traded goals and Elia rifled in his last goal to end the scoring in the third. 

Sikora dropped in a goal with 5:26 left in the game, which would end the Cadets’ scoring. Jake LaMorte (Walpole, MA) capped all scoring with 1:33 remaining to play, cutting through the middle and shooting low and away, bringing the final score to 13-5.

The Lasers have two regular season games left to play, beginning with an away contest at Rivier College on Tuesday, April 27th.  The Lasers and the Raiders will face off at 7:00 p.m.