WLX: Lasell defeats Emmanuel in GNAC contest

NEWTON, Mass. – Senior Jordan McComb (Cumberland, R.I.) reached career highs with nine goals and 12 points Wednesday afternoon as Lasell College defeated Emmanuel College, 21-13, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's lacrosse contest at Grellier Field.

McComb's nine goals match the fifth-highest output in a game in program history, falling two short of the program record, and her 12 points equals the third-most in a Lasell game, just one shy of the school record. Sophomore Kellie Matthews (Walpole, Mass.) and Vanessa Pino (Methuen, Mass.) also put up seven-point games, Matthews tying her season-high with five goals and two assists and Pino scoring one goal and collecting a season-high six assists, tied for fourth-most in a game in school history.

The Lasers scored at least 20 goals for the second straight game and fourth time this season, as they improved to 12-3 overall and 7-2 in GNAC games. Emmanuel drops to 6-7 overall and 5-5 in the conference.

After Lasell jumped on top 3-0 in the first three minutes of the game, the scoring went back and forth and the Lasers held a 5-4 lead at the midway point of the first half. The home team scored three in a row to extend the margin to 8-4, but Emmanuel came back with three of the final four goals in the half to cut Laser lead to 9-7 at the break.

The scoring again went back and forth in the second half, two goals at a time, and Lasell led 14-11 with 17 minutes remaining. The Lasers then scored six in a row to inflate the lead to nine goals with eight minutes to play, and the Saints couldn't come back.

Juniors Chloe Shugrue (Worcester, Mass.) and Jorgia Bergin (Sandwich, Mass.) and freshman Erin Kriger (Burlington, Mass.) also scored two goals apiece for Lasell. McComb collected 10 draw controls, six ground ball and four caused turnovers, and Matthews and Shugrue were good for five draw controls, three ground balls and two caused turnovers apiece.

Sophomore Elizabeth Fortier (Newburyport, Mass.) led the Saints with five goals and junior Kylie Rice (Bethlehem, Conn.) finished with two goals and three assists. Freshman Jessica Borduas (Woodbury, Conn.) and sophomore Emily Saef (Moultonborough, N.H.) chipped in with two goals apiece.

Lasell dominated the draws, winning 24 of 33, and had more shots, 41-30, and ground balls, 20-9.

Both teams will play GNAC road games this Saturday, April 20, at 11 a.m. as Lasell visits Albertus Magnus College and Emmanuel meets Simmons University.

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