NEWTON, Mass. – Saint Joseph's College (9-8, 6-3 GNAC) defeated Lasell University (8-7, 6-3 GNAC), 5-1, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference field hockey contest Saturday at Grellier Field.
Five different players scored for the Monks, while sophomore Ava Markham (Belfast, Maine) contributed a goal and two assists.
PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS:
With the decisive victory, the Monks are poised to secure a top-four seed and host a GNAC Tournament quarterfinal, pending the conference's official tiebreaker calculations. The tournament bracket is expected to be announced later this evening and the postseason begins next Saturday.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Sophomore Myia SeeHusen (Corinna, Maine) opened the scoring at 10:05, converting a Markham assist to give Saint Joseph's a 1-0 lead.
Senior goalkeeper Kimberley McLaughlin (Lewiston, Maine) helped preserve the advantage with five second-quarter saves, including a penalty-stroke stop at 28:58. The Monks carried their one-goal cushion into halftime.
Freshman Kayla Magnant (Biddeford, Maine) doubled the lead at 42:35 off another Markham assist. Lasell answered at the end of the third quarter, as Mara Boldy scored off an Isabella O'Reilly feed to trim the deficit to 2-1.
Saint Joseph's responded with three unanswered fourth-quarter goals. Markham converted a penalty stroke at 48:35, and freshman Chloe Masse (Oakland, Maine) extended the lead to 4-1 at 55:47, assisted by freshman Macy Hickey (West Gardiner, Maine).
Lasell pulled goalkeeper Joy Sayah for an extra attacker with 3:40 remaining. Freshman Lily Huntley (Wilton, Maine) capped the scoring with an empty-net goal at 59:44, assisted by junior Zoey Lailer (Limington, Maine).
TEAM STATS:
Saint Joseph's held the advantage in shots on goal (10-8), while both teams attempted 14 shots. Lasell led in penalty corners (14-7). The Monks outshot the Lasers by a 7-2 margin in the fourth quarter.
THE KEEPERS:
McLaughlin made seven saves in 60 minutes to earn the victory. Sayah recorded five saves in 56:20 before Lasell played the final 3:40 with an extra field player.
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:
Saint Joseph's improved to 25-9 all-time against Lasell with its second consecutive victory in the series.
NEXT!
Saint Joseph's hosts Thomas College in the regular-season finale Tuesday, October 27, at 6:00 PM at the SJC Athletics Complex.
