Women's Lacrosse Held Off By Lasell, 13-12
WOMEN'S LACROSSE HELD OFF BY LASELL, 13-12
CHICOPEE, MA, April 24, 2007 - Elms College junior defender Raemarie Josefiak (Springfield, MA) netted five goals and added three assists, but Lasell College received a game-high six goals from sophomore attack Caitlyn Murphy (Katonah, NY) then held off a furious second half rally to post a 13-12 win over the Blazers in Tuesday's New England Women's Lacrosse Alliance (NEWLA) game at Leary Field.
With the win, Lasell finished its season 5-8 overall, 2-5 NEWLA. Elms College finished its season 2-9 overall, 1-6 NEWLA.
The Blazers trailed 13-12 and twice nearly tallied the equalizer, but Lasell senior goalkeeper Noelle O'Leary (Billerica, MA) made a point-blank save on Elms College junior center Lauren O'Donnell (Hampden, MA) with 45 seconds remaining and thwarted senior attack Jill Jacobs (Douglas, MA) bid at the final buzzer.
Lasell had jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the game's opening 20 minutes behind a pair of goals each from Murphy and freshman midfielder Britney Savoie (Lowell, MA).
Josefiak responded with her 11th and 12th goals of the year to cut the Blazers' deficit to 5-2 before freshman midfielder Andrea Ward (Hingham, MA) scored her third goal of the season to stake Lasell to a 6-2 lead at intermission.
Josefiak and junior attack Caitlin Childs (Hingham, MA) responded with a goal each in the opening 2:45 on the second half to pull the Blazers to within 6-4.
Murphy then answered with the game's next two goals - her team-leading 47th and 48th of the year - to reclaim the Lasers' four-goal advantage.
The Blazers came roaring back with five of the game's next six goals, including the game-tying tally from O'Donnell with 13:02 remaining to knot the game at 9-9.
Senior attack Sarah Schlegel (Liverpool, NY) scored her 20th goal 23 seconds later to give Lasell a 10-9 lead.
Junior attack Princess Eckles (Belmont Port of Spain, Trinidad) tallied her first goal of the year 1:59 later to tie the game at 10-10.
Murphy followed with her 49th goal of the year to once again give Lasell a one-goal advantage with 10:18 remaining.
O'Donnell struck for her third goal of the game with 7:49 remaining to tie the game at 11-11.
Ward and Murphy, however, struck for consecutive goals over the next 5:06 to give the Lasers the lead for good at 13-11.
Josefiak added her 15th goal of the year with 1:58 remaining to close the scoring.
O'Leary was solid between the pipes for Lasell, as she finished with 14 stops to earn the victory.
Elms College sophomores Alicia Bobbie (Higganum, CT) and Sarah Lapolice (West Springfield, MA) combined for 10 saves in the loss.