Western Posts 8-4 Victory Over Lasers

NEWTON, MA- Behind five points by Western Connecticut's leading scorer, Sean Macey (New Fairfield, CT), the Colonials posted an 8-4 win over Lasell College in regional men's lacrosse action on Saturday afternoon at Grellier Field.  

Lasell lagged, 3-0, after the first period of play as Western's Ryan Gillis (Norwich, CT) scored less than three minutes into the game and Macey and Ryan Foster (Ledyard, CT) followed with a tally each.  All three goals were scored in the first seven minutes of the quarter.

In the second period, Lasell netted their only goal of the first half when Dan Clark (Scarborough, ME) attacked, unassisted, 5:12 into action.  Macey completed a hat trick in the period, giving the visitors a 6-1 edge at the half.  

Western earned the edge in shots (15-13), ground balls (11-7), and clears (11-7) before halftime while Lasell closed the half with an advantage in faceoffs (5-4) and saves (6-5).     

The Colonials also connected on 1-of-4 man-up opportunities in the first two stanzas, while Lasell was awarded no extra-man chances in the half. 

After the break, Gillis added his second goal, fed from the outside by Macey at the 2:55 mark of the third.  Lasell added their second mark after a turnover at midfield by the Colonials and a ground ball pick up by Clark allowed Dylan Gray (Bayport, NY) to beat Tyler Martone (Cheshire, CT) in Western's net in a one-on-one situation. The Lasers completed the scoring in the third frame with an unassisted goal by Dylan Fernandes (Billerica, MA) who side-armed a shot from the top of the box to score low past Martone. The Colonials still held onto a 7-3 lead after three periods.

An even 1-1 battle transpired in the final quarter as Raul Bourgeois (New Milford, CT) cut through traffic to score 57 seconds into the frame and Lasell's Chris Bulkley (Groton, CT) launched the last goal of the game at 7:22, curling from behind the Colonials net to catch Martone off his post.  Bulkley's goal was scored while Lasell was man-down.

Throughout the contest, Martone turned aside over 78% of the Lasers on-target attempts at net, making 15 saves in the contest.  Lasell's goalkeeper Eric Walsh (Weymouth, MA) made 11 stops in the defeat.

Western Connecticut leveled out their overall record to 3-3 after today's win, while Lasell slips to 1-4 on the season.  The Lasers will challenge Johnson State next on Tuesday, March 22nd at 4:00 p.m. at Grellier Field.