Bard College Tops Women’s Lacrosse, 19-8

CHICOPEE, Mass. – Elms College junior attackers Lauren Mazza (Agawam, Mass.), Nora McDonough (South Hadley, Mass.) and sophomore attacker Jillian Pirog (Ludlow, Mass.) each netted a pair of goals, but Bard College used a balanced attack of its own led by five goals apiece from Brianna Bean (Kaneohe, Hawaii) and Stephanie LaMont (Skippack, Pa.) to help pace the Raptors to a 19-8 victory in Tuesday evening's non-conference women's lacrosse game at Leary Field.

With the loss, Elms moves to 1-6 on the season, while Bard improves to 3-4 on the season.

Bard used a 12-goal first half to stake an eight goal advantage at intermission (12-3) highlighted by three scoring strikes from LaMont and Victoria Fleisher (Brooklyn, N.Y.), and two each from Bean and Joanna Regan (Selden, N.Y.). Alexandra Clarke (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Hannah Durham (Fairfield, Conn.) also found the back of the net for the Raptors in the first 30 minutes of action.

Bean also had three assists in the half, while LaMont, Fleisher and Regan notched a helper each.

Mazza netted both of her goals in the first half while Pirog added one of her two markers in the frame.

In the second half, Bard outscored Elms 7-5 as Bean struck the nylon three more times, while LaMont contributed two more goals. Fleisher and Lizzy Chemel (Los Angeles, Calif.) tabbed a goal each in the second half to help the Raptors claim the 19-8 win.

McDonough scored twice and Pirog netted her second of the contest during second half action, while senior midfielder Brianna Lyons (Canton, Mass.) hit the target and freshman midfielder Emily Dawson (Somers, Conn.) secured a goal.

Elms' sophomore defender Emily Brown (Agawam, Mass.) led the Blazers with six groundball pickups while Lyons followed with five groundballs and three caused turnovers. Sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Carpenter (Vernon, Conn.) added eight saves, seven of which came in the second period.

Durham picked up seven groundballs and Fleisher added five, while Regan won nine of the team's 21 draw controls in the winning effort. Winta Mehari (Stone Mountain, Ga.) turned away seven shots to preserve the victory.

Elms returns to non-league action on Thursday, April 3 when it travels to Anna Maria College for a 4:00 p.m. game in Paxton, Mass.