Anchorwomen Rout Lasers,17-7

NEWTON, MA-- Rhode Island College women's lacrosse opened their 2010 season with a 17-7 defeat of the Lasell College Lasers in non-conference action Thursday on Grellier Field.  The Anchorwomen halted a three-game win streak for Lasell, who finished the day with a 3-3 overall record.

Rhode Island’s Nicky Drolet (Somersworth, NH) and Molly Voyer (Lincoln, RI) combined for 11 of the Anchorwomen’s total goals, including 8-of-12 first half tallies.  Drolet produced a game-best seven points (five goals, two assists) in the Anchorwomen’s triumph, while also contributing six groundballs.  Voyer added six points, all on goals, scoring 4-of-5 free possession shots and adding a game-high nine ground ball pickups.  Haley Lattinville (North Kingstown, RI) and Suany Almonte (Warwick, RI) found the back of the net three times each, while Lattinville controlled the draw eight times.

Lasell’s Tina Canavan (Stonington, CT) scored her 150th career point in the contest after recording three goals against the Anchorwomen.  All of Canavan's goals were scored in the second half, and she also grabbed two draw controls and three loose balls.  Ashley Slattery (Weymouth, MA) picked up a team-best six ground balls and caused two turnovers and Chelsea Caren (Redding, CT) drilled two goals, grabbed four ground balls, and secured two draw controls in the defeat.

It was a lopsided first half that put Lasell behind by 10 goals at the break, 12-2.  Drolet was the first to score 2:33 into the game, breaking through the middle of the lane shooting to the lower left corner.  Two minutes later Almonte picked up a rebound off a second Drolet shot and curled around the cage dishing an underhanded shot low into the Lasers net for their second goal.    Both Drolet’s and Almonte’s goals were unassisted.  Lattinville gave the visitors a 4-0 lead with back-to-back goals, first scoring off a pass from Drolet and then netting a free possession shot.

Lasell’s junior midfielder April McGrath (Willow Grove, PA) registered the Lasers’ first mark, at 8:40 into the game, off of a penalty shot, however, RIC’s potent offense followed up with a 7-0 run, which included three goals apiece from Drolet and Voyer.

Caren ended Rhode Island’s streak with 41 seconds left in the half as she ducked and dodged through the lane to score Lasell’s second goal.  However, it was Voyer who had the final goal of the half, scoring with 14 second remaining in the stanza.

Lasell’s goalie Kristin Coderre (Monson, MA) made ten saves on a relentless RIC attack (27 shots) in the first half and RIC’s net-minder Kerri Montgomery (Franklin, MA) collected six stops in the period. 

The second half resulted in a more level playing field as each team scored five times in the period.    Lattinville attacked from in front of the cage grabbing a pass from Drolet behind the net five minutes into the half.  Voyer then drove in from the 12 –meter arc to shoot from eight yard for the Anchorwomen’s 14^th goal.

In the 18^th minute, Caren sent a leading pass to Andrea Ward (Hingham, MA) who drove through an open lane towards the net to fire in Lasell’s third mark.  The visitors answered moments later with a goal by Almonte off the draw and Voyer attacked for her sixth goal with 12 minutes left to play.

Canavan scored the first of her three marks at 11:25, rolling through the middle and reversing around her defender to score.  Caren ushered in the Lasers’ next goal two minutes later, curling around the net to make the score 16-5.

After the Anchorwomen were charged with a yellow card, Canavan picked up a loose ball and swiped in the rebounded ball to score on the extra-man opportunity at 7:15.

Drolet registered her final goal with three minutes to play, but it was Canavan who finished the scoring, breaking away from midfield to score as time expired.

RIC held a 37-29 shot advantage as well as an edge in ground balls (53-38) and draw controls (16-9) throughout the contest.  Coderre turned away 14 total shots in for Lasell while Montgomery came away with 11 stops off Laser challenges. 

Lasell’s next contest will mark the opening of Great Northeast Athletic Conference play on Tuesday, March 23^rd, facing Pine Manor College at 4:30 p.m. on Grellier Field.