Field Hockey: Lasers' 2021 season recap

NEWTON, Mass. - Sheridan Blaha and Claire Shepherd of the 2021 Lasell University field hockey team were named to the GNAC All-Conference second and third team, respectively, as the Lasers finished with an above-.500 record in the conference for the fourth straight season.

The Lasers went 6-5 in the GNAC, with Courtney Tello and Lisa Ortiz taking home GNAC Rookie of the Week honors on Sept. 13 and 20, respectively. Lasell qualified for the GNAC quarterfinals as the sixth seed.

Tello ranked first in the GNAC in saves (150), third in save percentage (.789) and tied for fourth in shutouts (3). The save percentage is the fourth best in a single season in program history and the save total ranks fifth in the record book. She recorded double-digit saves seven times, including turning aside 23 shots on two occasions. The Nashua, New Hampshire, native posted an .800 save percentage or better eight times.

Blaha ranked tied for eighth in the GNAC in goals (10), tied for ninth in assists (5) and sat alone in ninth in points (25), while leading the Lasers in all three statistical categories. She registered back-to-back, two-goal performances during victories over Anna Maria and Dean on Oct. 6 and 9. The Waltham, Massachusetts, native finished with one goal and one assist in triumphs over Regis and Albertus Magnus on Sept. 11 and Oct. 20.

The Lasers also received strong offensive production from Lily Stark (7 goals, 3 assists), Sage Dodier (5, 3), McKensie Lennon (4, 3), Ortiz (4, 3), Johanna Snyder (3, 2), Alyson Barnes (3, 1), Mya Maxim (3, 1), Kaitlyn Duarte (2, 0), Maddie Sewade (0, 4), Caitlyn Smith (2, 0), Grace Marc-Aurele (1, 1), Kaleigh Miller (0, 1) and Shepherd (0, 1). Stark and Dodier each recorded a pair of four-point efforts.

Lasell posted a thrilling comeback victory over New England College on Sept. 7, overcoming a two-goal deficit during a 4-3 victory on Grellier Field. Dodier buried the game-winning goal with 2:43 remaining in the fourth quarter. During a 2-1 triumph at Anna Maria on Oct. 6, Blaha came through with the clutch gene, tallying the game-sealing tally 7:52 into overtime.

Director of Athletic Communications Trevor Wenners can be reached at twenners@lasell.edu.

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