PORTLAND, ME – Lasell College (9-2, 6-0 GNAC) topped Saint Joseph's (7-5, 3-2 GNAC), 18-12, in GNAC women's lacrosse action at Deering Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

Lasell came out of the gates strong and held an 11-1 lead before freshman midfielder Mary Leasure (South Portland, Maine/McAuley) closed the first half with a goal off an Anneka Adame (San Diego, Calif.) feed. The Monks came out with renewed vigor in the second stanza and outscored the Lasers 10-7 in the closing half, but the comeback bid fell short against the current top team in the conference.

For the Monks, junior Cassie Diplock (Augusta, Maine) netted five goals and corralled a team-high five ground balls and Adame produced a goal and an assist with a game-high seven draw controls in the loss. Junior Krystal Walsh (Springvale, Maine) scored twice while Leasure and Macy Pagurko (Augusta, Maine) added a goal and an assist apiece and Kat Gadbois (Scarborough, Maine) and Kirstin McCombs (Lewiston, Maine) contributed a goal each for the hosts.

Junior keeper Haley Nason (Saco, Maine) faced 38 total shots and recorded 14 saves in the conference setback.

For the Lasers, Britney Wuorio (Bolton, Mass.) tallied six goals and three assists, Ashley Slattery (Weymouth, Maine) posted four goals and five assists and Rebecca Stanton (Agawam, Mass.) contributed three goals and a helper. Slattery added five ground balls and five draw controls and Bridget Munnelly (Bellingham, Mass.) chipped in with six draw controls on the afternoon.

Lasell netminder Sammy Long (Staten Island, N.Y.) faced 24 shots and made six saves for the visitors.

Saint Joseph's returns to action on Wednesday when the team travels to Emmanuel College for a conference contest slated to start at 7:00 PM.

Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 350-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.