MLX: Lasell knocks Albertus Magnus from GNAC playoffs

NEWTON, Mass. – Lasell College used a solid team effort, including goals from 11 different players, Saturday afternoon as the top-seeded Lasers knocked eighth-seeded Albertus Magnus College from the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's lacrosse tournament with an 18-4 quarterfinal victory at Grellier Field.

The Lasers extended their program record to 14 wins in a row, improving to 15-1 overall. Albertus winds up its season with a 2-12 record. Lasell will be home again on Tuesday for a 4 p.m. semifinal game at Grellier Field against fourth-seeded Rivier University, which defeated fifth-seeded Anna Maria College on Saturday, 15-5.

The Lasell defense kept its opponent to single digits for the 15th straight game. The Lasers rank fourth among 239 teams in the NCAA Division III in scoring defense, allowing 6.33 goals per game.

Senior Ryan Madden (Hingham, Mass.) led the scoring parade for Lasell with three goals and two assists, while freshman James Anderson (Medway, Mass.) tallied three goals and one assist. Senior Liam Gillis (Reading, Mass.) and sophomores Colby Buccheri (Rowley, Mass.) and Josif Giogas (Burlington, Mass.) scored twice each, and senior Mike Susi (Gorham, Maine) and freshman Bash Cunningham (Norwalk, Conn.) chipped in with three assist apiece.

The Lasers scored four goals in four minutes in the first quarter and led 5-1 after one frame. After the teams traded goals early in the second quarter, Lasell rattled off six consecutive goals in the last seven minutes of the half, starting with a man-up goal by senior defender David Sheehan (Tewksbury, Mass.) and two in a row by Anderson, to push the margin to 12-2 at halftime. Lasell outscored the visitors 4-1 in the third quarter and cruised to the win in the fourth.

Sophomore Mykel Stinson (Bridgeport, Conn.) led the Falcons with two goals.

Lasell won 18 of 25 face-offs, with junior Ben Werner (Boxford, Mass.) winning 9-of-10 and freshman Steven Phelps (Stamford, Conn.) winning 9-of-15.

The home team dominated in shots to the tune of a 58-17 advantage. Senior John Brunetti (West Haven, Conn.) made 15 saves for Albertus, and Lasell's three netminders, freshman Alex Beauchemin (Westfield, Mass.), junior Ryan Janovic (East Lyme, Conn.) and sophomore Mike Davison (Burlington, Mass.) combined for just four saves in the Laser goal.

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