Women's Lacrosse: Lasell downs Anna Maria for first GNAC and season victory

Franklin, Mass. – Senior Sophia Gasden scored four goals to help power the Lasell University Lasers women's lacrosse team to their first victory of the season over Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) foe Anna Maria, 14-10, Tuesday at Caparso Field.

The win marked the first in the coaching career of Britney Wuorio. The win also moved the Lasers to .500 in the GNAC at one and one.

Anna Maria started the game well on offense and defense scoring the first four goals, getting two goals from senior Ashley Rufo (Pittsfield, Mass.). Lasell clawed back in the first quarter scoring three of the final four goals first from senior Sophie Fistori, followed up by junior Emily Chapdelaine and right before the end of the quarter the senior Sydney Brady scored for the Lasers to trail five to three after one.

The Amcats pushed their lead back up to four to start the second quarter getting two straight man up goals from Rufo and freshman Riley Michaud (Clinton, Mass.). Lasell scored two back, first from Fistori and second from junior Sam Jones. The second quarter ended in a flurry of goals from both sides as three were scored in the final minute of action. Rufo scored her fifth of the first half with 51 seconds remaining to give Anna Maria a three-goal lead. Gadsden ended the quarter scoring two unanswered to cut the Amcat lead to one going into the break.

Lasell took the momentum from the second quarter into the third tying the game on a goal from sophomore Teresa Kessner and grabbed their first lead of the game when Gadsden got her hattrick. Anna Maria evened the game back up on a goal by sophomore Raegan Hachey (Winthrope, Maine). Lasell grabbed the lead back to heading into the fourth quarter as Fistori scored a man up goal to complete her hattrick.

Anna Maria wasted no time in the fourth tying the game up, as less than 30 seconds into the quarter Hachey knotted the game up at 10 apeice. From there, it was all Lasers as a minute later Chapdelaine gave the Lasers the lead and they never looked back. Gadsden scored her fourth of the game to give the Lasers a two-goal cushion and Kessner scored the final two Laser goals for her hattrick as the Lasers took the game 14-10.

The second half was the difference in the game for the Lasers and key to their victory as they held the Amcats to only two goals while they piled up seven.

Rufo led the Amcats with five goals and two assists, while Michaud and Hachey both scored and assisted on goals for Anna Maria. Sophomore Sarah Burt (Plymouth, Mass.) made eight saves in the loss.

Senior goalie Devin Zambruno picked up her first career win in net saving 11 of the 21 shots she faced including five of seven shots in the second half. Gadsden led the Lasers with four goals, and Fistori and Kessner both talled three with Kessner also assisting on two goals. Chapdelaine scored two goals while assisting on three others and Brady and Jones both scored a goal apiece with Jones assisting on two goals. Sophomore Kaitlin Bedell led the game in ground balls with seven. 

The Lasers will be back in action when they travel to the University of Saint Joseph Connectitcut for another GNAC matchup. The game is set to start at 1:00 p.m.