BIG SECOND HALF LIFTS MEN’S LACROSSE PAST LASELL IN GNAC SEMIFINALS, 9-6

BOSTON, Mass. – Trailing by a goal at the half, No. 1 Emmanuel College outscored No. 4 Lasell College 7-3 in the second stanza en route to a 9-6 victory in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Men's Lacrosse Semifinals Thursday evening at Roberto Clemente Field. With the win, EC improves to 12-4 on the year and advances to the GNAC Championship for the second consecutive season while the Lasers fall to 9-7.

Trailing 3-1 late in the first half, the Saints got a huge lift from senior attack Jake Jaskolski (St. Clair Shores, Mich.) with his first goal of the evening with 2:00 to play in the second quarter to cut the lead to 3-2. Jaskolski was able to streak down the left side of the field in transition and sneak a near side shot by Lasell junior goalie Davis Walen (Longmeadow, Mass.) to make it a one-goal game heading into the half.

Emmanuel came out in the second half with the momentum and scored two quick goals to set the tone for the remainder of the action. Senior middie Jake Pickett (Stratham, N.H.) won the opening faceoff and came down to score the game-tying goal just 16 seconds into the third quarter with a sniper shot from 25 feet out at the top of the zone to make it 3-3.

Just 38 seconds after Pickett's goal, Jaskolski gave Emmanuel its first lead of the night with his second goal of the game as the senior hit a shot on the run in front of the net to give the hosts a 4-3 lead with 14:06 remaining in the period.

Minutes later, the Lasers took advantage of an Emmanuel penalty as junior attack Casey Sullivan (Quaker Hill, Conn.) deposited a near-side man-up goal with the help of a long skip pass from senior middie Aaron LaPorte (Gorham, Maine) to make it 4-4 at the 12:04 marker.

After almost 11 minutes of scoreless action, the Saints took the lead for good on an unassisted marker by sophomore attack Tony Cibelli (Westboro, Mass.). Cibelli was the beneficiary of good ball movement around the back of the net before he did all the hard work in front of the net for his 36^th goal of the year to make it 5-4.

Fifteen seconds later, Pickett had déjà-vu from his goal to start the quarter by winning the faceoff and coming down to score with a long-range shot from the top of the offensive zone to give Emmanuel a 6-4 cushion heading into the final quarter of play.

Sophomore attack Donnie Litzelman (Stratham, N.H.) made it a 7-4 contest with an early fourth quarter goal but the Lasers responded with a man-up score by Sullivan, his second of the game, to cut the lead to 7-5 with 10:34 to play. Sullivan buried a deep shot from the top corner of the box to make it a two-goal game with the help of an assist from junior Pat Egan (Glen Rock. N.J.).

Emmanuel stayed strong and answered with a man-up goal of its own to make it 8-5 as junior middie Chris Curtis (Ashland, Mass.) scored his team-leading 37^th goal of the year, finishing a Jaskolski feed in the slot with 8:50 left in the regulation.

Lasell continued to fight and a man-up score by Egan with 5:54 to play once again made it a two-goal game at 8-6. Egan curled around a screen and his shot on the run beat Emmanuel senior goalie Austin Lauzier stick side to keep things interesting.

Jaskolski made sure to silence the Lasers with his third goal of the night off the ensuing faceoff to give the Saints a 9-6 advantage with 5:07 left to play.

Lauzier and the Saints defense made the three-goal lead hold up to secure Emmanuel's 10^th consecutive win and a return trip to the conference championship. Lauzier ended the game with eight saves while Walen posted 15 saves in a fantastic losing effort.

Emmanuel is set to host No. 2 Mount Ida College on Saturday, April 25 at 1:00 PM for the GNAC Men's Lacrosse Championship. The Mustangs downed No. 6 Norwich University, 6-5, in the other Semifinal match-up earlier today. Earlier this season, the Saints posted a 13-5 victory over Mount Ida and will look to defend the conference championship.