WLX: Lasell nips Saint Joseph’s (Maine) in overtime

STANDISH, Maine – Senior Jordan McComb (Cumberland, R.I.) scored the game-winning goal on a free-position shot nearly five minutes into overtime Wednesday evening as Lasell College wrapped up the regular season with a 12-11 victory over Saint Joseph's College in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's lacrosse action contest at the SJC Athletic Complex.

The Lasers won their seventh game in a row to finish the regular season at 14-3 overall and 9-2 in the GNAC, while St. Joe's winds up at 9-7 overall and 7-4 in conference play. The two teams will face each other again on Saturday in a GNAC Tournament quarterfinal as the third-seeded Lasers will host the sixth-seeded Monks at noon at Grellier Field.

Junior Amanda DiLeonardo (West Haven, Conn.) led the Lasers with four goals and two assist, and senior Vanessa Pino (Methuen, Mass.) tallied three goals and two assists. McComb, Lasell's leading scorer on the season, was held to two goals, but contributed seven ground balls, six draw controls and three caused turnovers.

St. Joe's got three goals from junior Maddy Beaulieu (West Gardiner, Maine) and freshman Logan Champlin (Alfred, Maine) and two goals, an assist and a team-high four draw controls from senior Kayla Kelly (York, Maine). Sophomore Josie Rink (Newfield, Maine) collected five ground balls.

Wednesday's contest was a series of streaks. The Monks scored the first five goals of the game, including two by Kelly, to take a 5-0 lead 10 minutes in. Lasell followed with seven goals in a row, including three by DiLeonardo and two by Pino, to move ahead 7-5 at halftime.

St. Joe's came out of the break with three straight and six of the next seven goals to pull ahead 11-8 with 11:50 to play, only to see Lasell answer with three in a row to even the score at 11-all. The tying goal by junior Chloe Shugrue (Worcester, Mass.) came with 1:55 to play, setting up overtime and McComb's game-winner.

Junior Morgan Choquet (Woonsocket, R.I.) earned the win in goal for Lasell, making nine saves. Freshman Madelyn Nelson (Casco, Maine) made 10 saves at the other end in the Monks goal.

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