Team Effort Lifts Women's Lacrosse Over Lasell in Season-Opener, 21-10

NEWTON, Mass. – Seven players scored two or more goals to power visiting Emmanuel College past Lasell University, 21-10, Wednesday afternoon in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's lacrosse action at Grellier Field. EC senior Emily Saef (Moultonborough, N.H.) paced the Saints with seven points on three goals and four assists in the victory.

THE BASICS 

Score: 
Emmanuel College, 21; Lasell University, 10
Records: 
Emmanuel College Saints (1-0, 1-0 GNAC)
Lasell University Lasers (1-1, 1-1 GNAC)
Location: Newton, Mass. – Grellier Field
Date: Wednesday, March 24, 2021

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Over the first 14 minutes of play, the squads traded goals to a 4-4 score until EC sophomore Megan Steele (Auburn, Maine) gave Emmanuel the lead for good with 14:00 remaining in the opening half. The goal was part of four straight EC scores, capped by a tally from junior Lincoln Hamblett (East Boothbay, Maine) to make it 7-4 at the 11:31 marker.
• Sydney Brady (Westfield, Mass.) got one back to pull the Lasers to within two scores at 7-5 but the Saints outscored Lasell 5-1 over the final 10 minutes of the half to take a 12-6 cushion into the break.
• During the 5-1 spurt to close the stanza, EC junior Madeleine Beem (Windham, Maine) and sophomore Ali Bergin (Newbury, Mass.) deposited their first collegiate goals.
• LU grad student Jordan McComb (Cumberland, R.I.) opened the second half scoring on free position shot but EC responded with seven consecutive goals to build a 19-7 lead with 19:11 to play.
• McComb ended the Emmanuel flurry with a score before Brady netted back-to-back goals to get the hosts to double-digits (19-10) but juniors Jessica Borduas (Woodbury, Conn.) and Chandra Franca (Woburn, Mass.) capped the day with a goal apiece to account for the 21-10 final

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Saef tied a career-high in both points (7) and assists (4), matching her performance from April 15, 2019 when she scored three and dished out four helpers in a 21-17 victory over Nichols. Her 12 draw controls was also a game and career-high.
• Along with Saef, Borduas, Hamblett, Franca and senior Elizabeth Fortier (Newburyport, Mass.) all ended the action with three goals while Steele and Bergin contributed two goals each.
• Beem and graduate student Allison Hutchings (Billerica, Mass.) rounded out the EC goal scorers.
• Junior goalie Emma Crowley (Peterborough, N.H.) notched the win in net, making seven saves to improve to 2-0 since joining the Saints last year.
• Franca has now scored in eight consecutive games dating back to her freshman campaign.
• EC held McComb to just four goals on the day after the graduate student set the Lasell program record for points with 17 on 10 goals and seven assists in their 23-6 win over Norwich.
• Brady also finished the game with four goals for the Lasers.
• This afternoon's victory marks the first win over Lasell since a 16-12 victory on April 5, 2016.

UP NEXT

• Emmanuel returns to GNAC action this Saturday, March 27 when they host Johnson & Wales University at 3:00 PM in their 2021 home-opener at Roberto Clemente Field