FH: Lasell blanks Simmons in regular-season finale; Lasers earn first-round bye

NEWTON, Mass. – Lasell University scored two first-quarter goals and limited Simmons University to just four shots Wednesday afternoon and earned a 2-0 victory in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) field hockey regular season finale at Grellier Field.

With the victory, Lasell improves to 9-9 overall and 5-3 in the GNAC, clinching the second seed in the upcoming GNAC Tournament. Simmons drops to 7-11 overall and 4-4 in conference play, and will likely finish in a multiple-team tie for third or fourth place.

Junior Rebecca Duke (Ijamsville, Md.) scored the first goal for Lasell, putting in a rebound off a shot by Izzy Contois (Conway, Mass.) midway through the first frame for her fifth of the season. Freshman Mya Maxim (South China, Maine) doubled the Laser lead with less than a minute to go in the period, collecting a loose ball to the right of the cage and putting in her sixth goal of the season.

Simmons had a good scoring opportunity in the second quarter on a penalty corner but a shot by sophomore Emily Plummer (San Diego, Calif.) went just wide.

Lasell finished with an 8-0 advantage in shots in the first quarter and a 16-4 margin for the game. The Laser defense, led by seniors Mindy Esposito (Sunderland, Mass.) and Grace Duguay (Watertown, Mass.), junior Claire Shepherd (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and freshman Sage Dodier (Amesbury, Mass.), helped shut down the Sharks offense.

Sophomore goalie Sofia Rodriguez (Peabody, Mass.) made two saves to record her second shutout of the season. Simmons goalie Lucy McNamara (Brewster, Mass.) made 10 saves at the other end.

Lasell earns a first-round bye in the GNAC Tournament on Saturday, and will host a semifinal game at Grellier Field next Wednesday, November 6, against an opponent to be determined. Simmons will play a quarterfinal game this Saturday, November 2, with the site and opponent to be determined.

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