WLX: Lasell soars past Saint Joseph (Conn.)

NEWTON, Mass. – Seniors Jordan McComb (Cumberland, R.I.) and Vanessa Pino (Methuen, Mass.) combined for nine goals and four assists on Senior Day Saturday afternoon as Lasell College defeated the University of Saint Joseph (Connecticut), 21-8, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's lacrosse action at Grellier Field.

McComb tallied five goals and three assists while Pino added four goals and one assist for the Lasers. Those two, along with classmate Lily Delaney (Weymouth, Mass.) were recognized prior to the game with a Senior Day ceremony. McComb also picked up four ground balls and caused three turnovers and Pino collected three ground balls.

Lasell won its fourth game in a row to improve to 11-3 overall and 6-2 in the GNAC, while USJ drops to 2-10 overall and 0-9 in conference play.

Sophomore Kellie Matthews (Walpole, Mass.) also contributed three goals for the Lasers. Junior Jorgia Bergin (Sandwich, Mass.) tallied two goals and two assists, and classmate Kaeli Leddy (South Portland, Maine) was good for two goals and one assist. Freshman Erin Kriger (Burlington, Mass.) filled up the stat sheet with two goals, three ground balls, six draw controls and two caused turnovers.

Junior Charlotte Eberhardt (Thomaston, Conn.) led the visitors with five goals. Freshman Jenna Banta (Montville, Conn.) scored two goals and grabbed a game-high nine draw controls.

The teams traded goals early on, and Eberhardt's second goal kept the Blue Jays close with Lasell holding a 5-3 lead six minutes into the game. The Lasers then scored five straight goals, including two by Pino, and tacked on the last six goals of the half, two each from Matthews, McComb and Pino, to take a 16-5 lead at the intermission.

Lasell outscored the Blue Jays 5-3 in the second half, with goals from five different players, for the 21-8 final.

The Lasers will play their final regular season home game this Wednesday, April 17, hosting Emmanuel College in a GNAC contest at 4 p.m. USJ plays another GNAC road contest Wednesday at Simmons University at 7 p.m.

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