Women's Lacrosse Falls At Sage

Chris Kendrick (@CKendrick86)

ALBANY, N.Y. – The Elms College women's lacrosse squad was dealt a 19-12 loss by host Sage College during a non-conference contest at the APC Athletic Complex Tuesday evening. The Blazers dip to 6-2 on the season, while Sage rises to 4-6 overall.

The Blazers seized an early 3-0 lead after sophomore Vanessa Vurno (Salem, Conn.) found the back of the net in the opening minute, followed by strikes from freshmen Alecia Keesee (Westfield, Mass.) and Haley Richard (Monson, Mass.). Sage junior Torri Sperri (Saugerties, N.Y.) sandwiched a pair of goals around another strike from Keesee, and then senior Monica Koralus (Verbank, N.Y.) potted back-to-back goals to even the score at 4-4. Vurno converted off a feed from Richard, and then Richard scored an unassisted strike at the 12:26 mark to grab a 6-4 advantage. Elms held an edge over the Gators with goals from freshman Janis Christian (Westfield, Mass.) and Keesee, but a trio of goals from Koralus closed the gap to 8-7 at the break.

Koralus struck again to open scoring in the second half, evening the contest at 8-8 with 28:19 to play. Sperri scored off a pass from Koralus less than a minute later to give the Gators their first lead of the game. Richard and junior Jackie Soucia (Belchertown, Mass.) sandwiched goals around another goal from Koralus to set the score at 10-10. The Gators raced ahead with seven straight goals over the next ten minutes to own a 17-10 lead with 9:17 to play. Vurno added a pair of late goals for the Blazers en route to the 19-12 defeat.

Vurno paced the Blazers offense with a team-high six points on four goals and two assists. Richard tallied three goals and an assist, while Keesee logged her third hat trick of the season. Junior Haley Roberts (Westfield, Mass.) dished out a pair of assists in the loss.

The Sage attack was powered by Koralus with a game-high 11 points with 10 goals and an assist. Sperri chipped in four goals, while junior Adriana Spucches (Red Hook, N.Y.) and senior Nicole Maher (Glen Cove, N.Y.) recorded two goals each.

The Gators outshot the Blazers, 51-23, during the contest. Elms senior goalie Meeghan O'Connor (Fall River, Mass.) made a career-high 17 saves, while Sage senior Jackie St. Pierre (Averill Park, N.Y.) stopped six shots for the Gators.

The Blazers will look to return to the win column with an NECC road trip to Mitchell College Thursday afternoon for a 4:00 p.m. game. Sage hosts Southern Vermont Thursday at 4:00 p.m.

ELMS LACROSSE