Women's Lacrosse: Lasers clinch seventh seed with 16-6 win over Albertus Magnus on senior day

NEWTON, Mass. - It was a senior day to remember for Sydney Brady of the Lasell University women's lacrosse team, as she recorded seven goals and three assists, to go along with her 100th career point, during a 16-6 triumph in GNAC action over Albertus Magnus on Grellier Field Thursday.

With the win, the Lasers (7-9, 6-7 GNAC) locked down the seventh seed in the GNAC Tournament and will travel to second-seeded Simmons (15-2, 12-1 GNAC) Saturday for a 1 p.m. game during the first round. Prior to the game, Lasell honored its remarkable five-person senior class, featuring Brady (career-high 12 draw controls), Sophia Gadsden (3 ground balls, 3 caused turnovers), Devin Zambruno (6 saves), Sophie Fistori (earned a starting role) and Courtney Sobolewski (4 shots, 3 shots on goal, 2 ground balls, 2 draw controls, caused turnover). Brady set career-highs in points (10) and assists (3), while the seven goals are tied for the most during her time as a Laser.

"Everyone played such a crucial role in the win tonight," said Brady. "We knew there was a lot of pressure going into the game. We worked hard and came out on top. I could not have gotten my 100th point without the hard work of everybody on the team, so I am really grateful for all of them."

Sophomore Annarita Sanfilippo recorded her first goal in a Laser uniform Thursday, while Emily Chapdelaine finished with one goal and two assists and Teresa Kessner compiled five goals. Zambruno, who broke the program's single-season saves record Tuesday at Emmanuel and currently has 212 on the season, earned her seventh win of the year.

"This game proved how much the team wanted to win and to continue the season," said Zambruno. "We played for each other tonight and winning on senior day and being able to play with the team again in playoffs was the goal tonight."

Leading the way for the Falcons (3-13, 1-12 GNAC) were Keegan Riccio (2 goals), Alexandra Barrett (goal, assist) and Emmalee Ianniello (goal, assist). Goalie Chloe Oliver made a game-high 14 saves.

After Albertus scored the first goal of the game, Lasell responded with six straight tallies, with three coming from Brady. A goal by Chapdelaine, assisted by Brady, gave the Lasers a 6-1 lead. During the run, Brady posted her 100th point on a free-position shot with 12:38 on the clock in the second. A goal by Brady with 27 seconds left sent the hosts into halftime with a 7-3 advantage.

The Lasers took complete control of the game in the third, winning the quarter, 5-0, as Sanfilippo's goal with 14 seconds left gave the unit a 12-3 cushion entering the fourth. Lasell won the final 15 minutes, 4-3, to secure the victory.

Lasell led the shots' category, 40-16, and the ground-balls statistic, 34-19. The Lasers won 17-of-25 draws and went 18 for 23 on clears. Kessner, Brady and Mia Sullivan-Sanders combined for 14 ground balls and 12 caused turnovers.

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

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