WLX: Lasell rallies past Simmons to win in overtime

BOSTON, Mass. – Sophomore Kellie Matthews (Walpole, Mass.) scored the game-tying and game-winning goals Wednesday evening as Lasell College pulled out a 13-12 overtime victory over Simmons University in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's lacrosse game at Daly Field.

The outcome came after Lasell trailed most of the second half, and was down 12-9 with less than 10 minutes remaining. Seniors Jordan McComb (Cumberland, R.I.) and Vanessa Pino (Methuen, Mass.) scored to bring the Lasers to within a goal with three minutes left in regulation, and Matthews tallied her fourth goal of the game with 1:54 on the clock to set up overtime.

Matthews needed just 30 seconds of the extra session to score on a free position shot after junior Chloe Shugrue (Worcester, Mass.) won the draw. The win helped the Lasers improve to 10-3 overall and 5-2 in the GNAC, while Simmons drops to 5-6 overall and 3-4 in conference games.

Matthews finished with a game-high seven points on five goals and two assists. McComb tallied three goals and an assist along with six draw controls, four ground balls and two caused turnovers, and junior Amanda DiLeonardo (West Haven, Conn.) and freshman Erin Kriger (Burlington, Mass.) added two goals each. Shugrue wound up with five draw controls.

Senior Mallory Cottam (Hope, R.I.) led Simmons with four goals and eight draw controls. Sophomore Molly Reinhold (Mystic, Conn.) and senior Missie Maiewski (Northampton, Mass.) tallied three goals apiece. Senior Elena Bragg (Belmont, Mass.) collected a goal, two assists and three draw contols.

Lasell had a 5-3 lead with just under 11 minutes to go in the first half but Simmons rattled off five unanswered in the next eight minutes to take an 8-5 advantage. Kriger got one back before the half but the hosts led 8-6 at the break.

Simmons scored three of the first four goals of the second half to gain its largest lead, 11-7, with 16 minutes remaining. Lasell would not go down with a battle, as Matthews scored twice the slice the deficit in half. Simmons scored its final goal with 10 minutes remaining before Pino, McComb and Matthews led the Laser comeback.

Simmons finished with a 34-27 advantage in shots. Senior Morgan Choquet (Woonsocket, R.I.) earned the win for Lasell with 14 saves. Sophomore Cat Cross (Beverly, Mass.) made nine saves in the Sharks goal.

The Lasers return home for the Senior Day game this Saturday, April 13, against GNAC foe University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) at noon. Simmons visits GNAC opponent Rivier University Saturday at 1 p.m.

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