WPI Comeback Stops Lasell in Field Hockey Opener

Newton, MA - The Lasell women's field hockey team opened their season with a non-conference 3-2 loss against the Worcester Polytechnic Engineers.  WPI started the season 1-0 with the victory, while the Lasers fell to 0-1 for the campaign.

Nikita Soares (Westport, Mass.) and Taylor Hulitzky (Medway, Mass.) each tallied a goal for Lasell, and Soares added an assist on the afternoon. Denise Landry (New Milford, Conn.) made four saves in the cage for the Lasers, taking the loss.

Grace Davis (Sandwich, Mass.) paced the Engineers with a goal and an assist, as the visitors also saw Caroline Mazzola (Harvard, Mass.) and Allie Buckley (Worcester, Mass.) notch their first goals of the season. Lauren Punishys (Oxford, Mass.) made three saves on the afternoon to pick up her first win of the season.

The opening half saw the two teams get off to a slow start on the offensive side of the field, until Lasell senior Nikita Soares (Westport, MA) recorded her first goal of the season, unassisted on a breakaway in the 24^th minute of action, sending the hosts into the break with a 1-0 lead. The Lasers made it 2-0 shortly after intermission when senior Taylor Hulitzky (Medway, MA) scored her first goal of the season on a feed from Soares in the 43^rd minute.

The Engineers struck back in the 50^th minute, opening their scoring with a shot from Mazzola on a Davis feed to cut the Lasell lead to 2-1 then the visitors tied the game in the 57^th minute when Davis converted on a pass from Jena Mazzuco (Danbury, Conn.) following a penalty corner.

WPI struck the crucial goal in the final two minutes of play when Buckley converted a Hope Shevechuck (Burlington, Conn.) pass on a penalty corner, putting the visitors in front 3-2, and capping the come from behind victory.   

The Lasers will take on Wheelock College in their next home contest on Wednesday, September 3^rd at 4pm.  WPI will host Bridgewater State University at home on Tuesday, September 2^nd at 7pm.