WLX: Lasell rallies past Salem State

NEWTON, Mass. – Senior Vanessa Pino (Methuen, Mass.) tallied a game-high seven points Thursday afternoon, including her 200th career point, as Lasell College rallied from a four-goal second-half deficit to defeat Salem State University, 11-7, in non-conference women's lacrosse action at Grellier Field.

The upset-minded Vikings led 5-1 late in the first half and 6-2 at halftime. After the team traded goals in the first seven minutes of the second half to put the visitors up 7-3, Lasell outscored Salem State 8-0 over the final 23 minutes to secure the victory. Pino scored four straight goals in the second-half surge to tie the game at 7-all, and added another goal and an assist the rest of the way.

Lasell won its fifth game in a row to improve to 6-1 overall, while Salem State drops to 1-4.

Pino finished with six goals and one assist, pushing her career totals to 128 goals, 74 assists and 202 points. She becomes the sixth player in program history to reach to 200-point milestone. The Lasers also got two goals from senior Jordan McComb (Cumberland, R.I.) and a goal and an assist from junior Amanda DiLeonardo (West Haven, Conn.) and freshman Erin Kriger (Burlington, Mass.).

Sophomores Tara McLaughlin (Woburn, Mass.) and Taylor Lund (Woburn, Mass.) recorded two goals and one assist apiece to lead the Vikings, and freshman Amanda Bradley (Peabody, Mass.) also scored two goals.

Lasell won the battle of draws, 14-6, and ground balls, 25-19. McComb collected five draw controls, four ground balls and four caused turnovers for the Lasers, while junior Chloe Shugrue (Worcester, Mass.) grabbed four draw controls and five ground balls and classmate Amanda DiLeonardo (West Haven, Conn.) added two draw controls and three ground balls. Junior Rose Sullivan (Charlestown, Mass.) led all players with six ground balls for the Vikings.

Junior Morgan Choquet (Woonsocket, R.I.) made four saves in goal for the Lasers. Sophomore Gianna DeNisco (Peabody, Mass.) was outstanding in the Vikings goal, making 17 saves,

Lasell is home again on Saturday, March 23, hosting Anna Maria College in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference contest at 3:00 p.m. Salem State returns home to host the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Saturday at noon.

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