WLX: Lasell edges Johnson & Wales in GNAC affair

NEWTON, Mass. – Lasell University outscored Johnson & Wales University 3-1 in the final seven minutes of the game Wednesday afternoon to pull out a 16-13 victory in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's lacrosse game at Grellier Field.

Lasell bumps its record up to 2-1 on the season, 1-1 in conference play, while JWU drops to 0-3 overall and 0-2 in the GNAC.

Graduate student Jordan McComb (Cumberland, R.I.) led the Lasers with nine points on six goals and three assists, while collecting eight draw controls, four caused turnovers and three ground balls. Freshman Teresa Kessner (Brentwood, N.Y.) tallied five points on two goals and three assists, graduate student Chloe Shugrue (Worcester, Mass.) scored three goals and junior Sophie Fistori (Dartmouth, Mass.) added a pair of scores.

Senior Marley Medina (South Hadley, Mass.) led the Wildcats with five goals and one assist, along with four ground balls and four caused turnovers. Sophomore Kayla Datys (Warwick, N.Y.) scored four times, and freshman Maris DiBenedetto (Southbury, Conn.) and junior Hadley Borkowski (Allentown, N.J.) aided the cause with seven draw controls each.

The teams went back and forth in the first half and Lasell held a 10-7 lead at halftime, led by McComb's four goals while Datys had three for the visitors. The Lasers pulled ahead to a 12-8 lead just over six minutes into the second half, but JWU rallied with four goals by Medina to pull to within one goal, 13-12, with 12 minutes to go. Lasell held off the surge and scored three of the final four goals down the stretch to secure the victory.

Graduate student Morgan Choquet (Woonsocket, R.I.) finished with 11 saves in goal for Lasell, including key stops on potential game-tying free position shots late in the second half. Freshman Emma Crowley (Leicester, Mass.) made four saves in goal for JWU.

Lasell will be back in action this Friday, Apr. 2, with a rematch at Emmanuel College at 7:00 p.m. The Lasers lost to Emmanuel, 21-10, in a GNAC home game on March 24. Johnson & Wales will play its home opener this Saturday, April 3, at noon against the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.).

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