Men's Lacrosse: Lasers open GNAC play with 6-3 win at Saint Joseph (Conn.)

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - Seniors James Anderson and David Burke each finished with two goals for the Lasell University men's lacrosse team Saturday afternoon, as the Lasers opened Great Northeast Athletic Conference action with a 6-3 victory at Saint Joseph (Conn.).

Senior goalie Alex Beauchemin stopped 14 of 17 shots for the Lasers (2-5, 1-0 GNAC), as he recorded a .824 save percentage in Lasell's second consecutive victory.

"It was great to start GNAC play the right way," said Lasell University Men's Lacrosse Head Coach Dieter Treusdell. "Beauchemin had a special game in net that helped us get a great team win on the road. It was a well-played game by USJ. The Blue Jays were great competitors."

Ryan Stone (2 assists), Nate Whitehead (1 goal), Bash Cunningham (1 goal) and Anthony DeRosa (1 assist) found their way onto the scoresheet. DeRosa has seven assists on the season, tied for the seventh most in the GNAC. Junior defender Magnus Leonard picked up a career-high and game-leading seven ground balls.

Goalie Trey McCann of the Jays (3-3, 0-1 GNAC) stopped 10 of 16 shots. Noah Mocksfield finished with team-highs of eight shots and six on net for Saint Joseph, while Samuel Barbetti and Garrett Lazor each corralled five ground balls.

Evan Baden scored the lone goal of the first quarter, putting the hosts in front, 1-0, with 11:17 left. Lasell took a 2-1 lead into halftime behind second-quarter goals by Whitehead and Anderson.

Lasell carried the momentum into the second half, scoring the first three goals. Cunningham and Anderson found the back of the net 51 seconds apart less than four minutes into the third quarter. A goal by Burke with 9:04 left gave the visitors a 5-1 advantage.

"It was great to start off conference play with a win," said Burke. "This is a very close and special group that gets better every time we play. We are hungry to get back to work Monday and prepare for Dean."

The Jays' trimmed the deficit down to three heading into the fourth quarter on a goal by Benjamin Green. Burke gave Lasell a four-goal cushion at 6-2 less than two minutes into the fourth, assisted by Stone. Saint Joseph scored midway through the quarter, but the Lasers were able to close out the three-goal victory.

Lasell led the shots' category, 34-32, and held a 32-27 advantage in ground balls. The Lasers went 25 of 31 on clears, while the Jays finished 20 for 26. Saint Joseph won 9-of-13 faceoffs.

The Lasers will compete against GNAC-rival Dean Wednesday at 4 p.m. on Grellier Field.

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

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