Women's Lacrosse: Sophia Gadsden records hat trick in 15-8 loss to Colby-Sawyer

NEWTON, Mass. - Senior attack Sophia Gadsden finished with three goals and one assist and senior midfielder Sydney Brady scored twice for the Lasell University women's lacrosse team during a 15-8 season-opening setback to Great Northeast Athletic Conference-rival Colby-Sawyer Wednesday at Grellier Field.

Senior goalie Devin Zambruno tallied a game-leading and career-high 24 saves for the Lasers (0-1, 0-1 GNAC). Britney Wuorio '14, who is Lasell's all-time career leader in points (420), coached her first game at the helm of the program.

Heather Hanson led the way for the Chargers (2-0, 1-0 GNAC) with four goals and four assists. Sydney Stevens (4 goals, 1 assist), Olivia Romo (1 goal, 3 assists) and Caroline Tompkins (4 goals) also played well for Colby-Sawyer. Goalie AJ Paton earned the win, making 11 saves.

Brady opened the scoring 1:47 into the first quarter on a free-position shot. After back-to-back goals by the visitors, Brady evened the score at 2-2 with seven minutes remaining in the opening period.

The Chargers took control of the game with eight consecutive goals. Tompkins scored a hat trick during the surge, as the visitors built a 10-2 advantage on a goal by Hannah Marquis with 5:38 left in the second. Gadsden responded by scoring two goals in a span of 30 seconds for Lasell, trimming the deficit to six with 2:04 on the clock. Colby-Sawyer led, 11-4, at halftime.

Each team scored four goals during the second half, as sophomore Teresa Kessner, senior Sophie Fistori, sophomore Kaitlin Bedell and Gadsden found the back of the net during the final 30 minutes.

Kessner tallied a team-high seven shots and four on net. Gadsden and Brady finished with five shots and four on goal, respectively, while Fistori put all four of her shots on target. Colby-Sawyer went 14 of 19 on clears, while Lasell finished 12 for 21. The Chargers led the ground-balls category, 27-15.

The Lasers will host Salem State on Wednesday, March 9, with a 4 p.m. start at Grellier Field.

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

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