Field Hockey Edged by Husson 3-2

NEWTON, Mass (10/12/13) – The Lasell College field hockey team dropped a hard-fought 3-2 result to Husson University on Saturday afternoon at Grellier Field. The Lasers are 7-6 overall and 2-2 in North Atlantic Conference play following the defeat while The Eagles improved to 8-4 on the season while remaining perfect at 5-0 in NAC contests.

Nikita Soares (Westport, Mass.) scored two goals for Lasell in the contest, and Ashley Gleason (Suffield, Conn.) tallied an assist. Sabrina Vaillancourt (Newport, Maine) netted a pair of goals for Husson, and Taylor Lovley (Newport, Maine) tallied one goal and one assist on the afternoon for the Eagles.

Vaillancourt opened the scoring just six minutes into the contest when she scored on a feed by Lovley to give Husson a 1-0 lead in the early going. Nikita Soares even the game at 1-1 in the 20^th minute of action when she corralled a loose ball in front of the cage and knocked her shot past Husson keeper Maicee Gustin (Dexter, Maine).

Taylor Lovely put Husson back in front in the 30^th minute when a crossing pass from Melissa Souza (E. Bridgewater, Mass.) found her on the back post of the cage for an easy scoring chance which she deposited in the back of the net to help the visitors go back on top 2-1. The Lasers would answer moments later when Ashley Gleason found Soares with a neatly played ball which she tucked inside the post, tying the game at 2-2 1:20 remaining in the half.

Sabrina Vaillancourt helped Husson reclaim the lead in the 59^th minute when she beat the Lasers keeper Taylor Sheehan (Brewster, Mass.) with a far post shot for her 14^th goal of the season giving Husson a 3-2 lead. The Lasers continued to press forward, winning several corners in the game's final 10 minutes but they were unable to convert, falling 3-2.

Taylor Sheehan made five saves while taking the loss in goal for Lasell. Kaitlin Dolloff (Richmond, R.I.) made three saves in the second half to earn the victory after coming on to relieve Maicee Gustin who made one save in the opening half for Husson.

Husson held a 14-11 and 8-6 edge in shots and shots on goal while Lasell possessed a 12-6 advantage in penalty corners.

The game was the Lasers annual "Play 4 the Cure" event to help raise money for cancer research through the Susan G. Komen foundation. Lasell donned pink jerseys and socks for the contest, ran a bake sale and collected donations in an effort to help raise money for the cause.

Husson will return to action on Tuesday October 15^th at 3:30 p.m. when they host St. Joseph's College of Maine. Lasell will head to Simmons College on Tuesday October 15^th for a 7:00 p.m. match-up with the Sharks.