FH: Lasell powers past Albertus Magnus in GNAC opener

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Lasell University field hockey team put up eight first half goals Saturday afternoon and went on to defeat Albertus Magnus College, 9-0, in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) field hockey opener at Celentano Field.

The victory for the Lasers is also the 200th career coaching victory at Lasell for head coach Cait Connolly. She is 86-91 in her 10th season as Lasers field hockey coach, and she was 114-50 in nine years as women's lacrosse coach from 2011-19.

Seven different players got into the scoring act for the Lasers, including a hat trick by sophomore Kaitlyn Duarte (Fairhaven, Mass.), the first three goals of her career. Senior Sam Taylor (Hanover, Mass.), junior Rebecca Duke (Ijamsville, Md.) and freshman Kensie Lennon (Jamestown, R.I.) tallied one goal and one assist apiece, and junior Claire Shepherd (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and freshman Kaylie Gonya (Uxbridge, Mass.) collected two assist each.

Lasell scored four goals in each of the first two quarters, and led 8-0 by the intermission. The Lasers overpowered the Falcons all day, finishing with a 30-1 advantage in shots.

The Lasers jumped on top midway through the first quarter on back-to-back goals by freshman Mya Maxim (South China, Maine) and Taylor. Lennon and junior Megan Horrigan (Wakefield, Mass.) put in goals just 45 seconds apart late in the first as Lasell led 4-0 after one.

Duke scored her goal in the first minute of the second quarter. After senior Mindy Esposito (Sunderland, Mass.) added one two minutes later to extend the margin to 6-0, Duarte scored back-to-back goals late in the second period and make it 8-0. Duarte tacked on her third goal midway through the fourth quarter.

Mikayla Lyston had a busy day in goal for Albertus, making 14 saves.

Lasell, 2-3 overall and 1-0 in the GNAC, returns to action next Thursday, September 19, with a visit to UMass Dartmouth for a 7 p.m. game.

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