WLax: Lasers defeat Colonels in Season Opener

Milton, MA – The Lasell Women's Lacrosse team defeated the Curry Colonels on Saturday in both team's season opener by a final score of 13-7.

The Colonels opened up the scoring five minutes into the game, as Ellie Hardman scored off of a feed from Chloe Chevrier. The next goal wasn't scored until the 3:40 mark in the quarter when the Lasers tied things up on a Teresa Kessner goal from Emily Watson. The Lasers would take the lead with a minute remaining on a Kaitlin Bedell free position shot goal, but the Colonels tied things up with a Natalie Keenan goal assisted by Chevrier with just 45 seconds remaining in the quarter. Each team would score once in the second quarter. The Lasers first on a Watson free position shot, and then Casey Conneely while Curry was a player up. Both of those goals occurred in the first four minutes of the quarter, and sent the game tied at three at the half.

The third quarter was a much more eventful, as the two teams combined to score nine goals, and had a stretch where four cards were handed out in a two minute stretch. The Lasers scored the first three goals, including a player up goal from Kaitlin Bedell, an even strength goal from Annarita Sanfilippo, and a player down goal from Emily Watson. After a Natalie Keenan goal for the Colonels while two players up made it 6-4, the Lasers answered with two straight goals, as Sanfilippo and Kessner each found the back of the net again. Curry would win the final five minutes of the quarter, scoring twice on goals from Conneely and Chevrier. Those goals sandwiched another Kessner goal.

The Lasers controlled the fourth, scoring four goals, with two from Bedell, and one each from Sanfilippo and Kessner. Kessner's final goal of the game was also the 100^th of her career. Chevrier wrapped up her four-point game with her second goal of the game for the Colonel's seventh goal of the game.

Joy Sayah picked up the win for Lasell, stopping 13 shots. The Colonels used two goalies, with Alexa Puopolo getting the start, making six saves. Zoe Ratcliffe would make five saves in the second half.

Chloe Chevrier and Nicole Michael were the key players for the Colonels on the restarts, as they had six and five draw controls each. Meanwhile Michelle Zaluga had four for Lasell.

Defensively, both teams had plenty of players forcing turnovers, with the Colonels having seven players with a caused turnover, while the Lasers were led by Shannon Borbee's four and Natalia Cullen's three.

The game was filled with penalties, as the Lasers accumulated three green cards and four yellow cards, while the Colonels had three green cards and five yellow cards.

Up Next – The Colonels will take on the Dean Bulldogs next, on Wednesday at Dean. Meanwhile the Lasers will host Fitchburg State on Tuesday.