Lasell Field Hockey powers past Clark

WORCESTER, Mass. – Senior Cailin Flannery (Medford, N.J.) scored three goals and added an assist Tuesday afternoon as Lasell College defeated Clark University, 7-4, in non-conference field hockey action at Granger Field. 

Sophomore Megan Horrigan (Wakefield, Mass.) also scored two goals for the Lasers and junior Sam Taylor (Hanover, Mass.) collected three assists. Lasell pulled out to a 4-0 halftime lead and a 7-0 margin early in the second half before Clark made a comeback attempt.

The Lasers won their sixth straight game to improve to 10-4 overall, while Clark fell to 6-7. 

Lasell got on the board just over six minutes into the first half on a tally from Horrigan. Flannery carried the ball up the right side and crossed it to the left post where Horrigan was there to push it in for the 1-0 advantage. The visitors struck again 20 minutes later when Taylor sent an aerial pass to Flannery who dodged through Clark defenders and snuck the ball behind senior goalkeeper, Dani Michaud (Providence, R.I.) for the 2-0 lead.

The Lasers scored two more goals in the first half, both from Flannery, to carry a 4-0 lead into the halftime break. Senior Julia Franzik (Wallingford, Conn.) assisted on Flannery's second goal of the day before Taylor found her on the post to capitalize on a penalty corner play.

Horrigan scored her second goal of the game and fifth goal of the season two minutes into the second stanza on another corner play and assist from Taylor to make it 5-0. Three minutes later Franzik picked up a loose ball and dodged through the Clark defense to take Michaud on 1v1 and put the Laser ahead by six.

The visitors added one more goal in the 41st minute of play when sophomore Rebecca Duke (Ijamsville, Md.) picked up a rebound off the pads of Michaud and finished at the back of the net for the 7-0 advantage.

The Cougars never let up and rallied for four second half goals. Things heated up in the 46th minute when sophomore Carden Maloney (Worcester, Mass.) sent a ball into the circle and her classmate Chase Collier (Lisbon, Maine) got a stick on it to deflect it up and into the net (7-1).

Collier carried the ball up the right side and crossed it in to senior Olivia Barksdale (Fort Washington, Md.) 10 minutes later, who swept the ball behind Lasell goalkeeper, Sofia Rodriguez (Peabody, Mass.) (7-2). 

The Cougars started peppering Rodriguez with shots with 29 minutes on the clock and Collier found the ball on her stick in the scuffle and pushed it in as the hosts now trailed by just four. Clark was able to put away one more goal with two minutes on the clock when Barksdale tallied her second goal of the game and 16th of the season (7-4).

Lasell outshot Clark 21-14 overall. Rodriguez made four saves in the victory for Lasell and improves to 6-1 on the season. Michaud made five saves in the setback. Freshman Grace Sawyer (Windham, Maine) came into the game for 28:29 of play and made two saves.

The Lasers are back at home on Thursday when they host Smith College at 3:30 p.m. Clark travels across town to Worcester State University on Thursday for a non-conference contest at 7:00 p.m.

(Contributions from Clark Sports Information)

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