CHICOPEE, Mass. – The New England College women's lacrosse team were on the road at Timothy J. Leary Field in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action as they collect another win on the season Tuesday in Chicopee, Massachusetts.
 

THE BASICS
Score:                    New England College 15, Elms College 9
Records:               Pilgrims 6-8, 3-6 GNAC | Blazers 4-6, 4-5 GNAC
 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• NEC jumped out to a fast start in the early going as the ball was being worked around the back of the net ultimately finding its way into the stick of the team's leading goal scorer in graduate midfielder Cassie Kelly (Alexandria, Minn.) assisted by senior midfielder Annalisa Crooks (Nantucket, Mass.) at 14:05.
• Shortly after just 25 seconds later the 'Grims struck once again after both teams were fighting for a loose ball on the ground that was scooped up by freshman midfielder Alexis Hornsby (Atkinson, N.H.) that found it's way other to sophomore attacker Mackenzie McDonald (Boscawen, N.H.).
• The Blazers responded with a goal of their own that came from freshman Rachel Dort (Chicopee, Mass.) as well as managing to take advantage of their man-up opportunities finding the back of the net on two occasions with both coming from sophomore Jackie Cronin (Smithtown, NY) keeping themselves in the game being up by one at 7:51, 3-2.
• NEC retaliated after the momentum was rolling for EC, they jumped out to a four-goal run that helped push for the team to be out in front with goals credited to Kelly, sophomore attacker Meadow Gilchrist (Stamford, Conn.), and senior attacker Nathalie Antigua (North Brunswick, N.J.) giving the 'Grims a three-goal lead finishing the first quarter, 6-3.
• The second quarter was a dominant display on behalf of the 'Grims as they put together a shut-out quarter not allowing goals to be scored denying any form of offense to be contributed on their end. Not only that NEC slung in another five goals keeping things flowing on their run they've created for themselves scoring nine straight to grant an ensuring lead of 11-3 going into halftime.
• Once things got on their way in the third quarter as Blazers did not stand idly by witnessing the first half performance put on by NEC found a way to claw their way back into the game tacking on three goals while not letting one fall into the back of their net shortening the deficit to within five at the end of the third quarter, 11-6.
• In the final quarter of action, the 'Grims showed no let up in the early going as they looked to put this one away scoring the first three goals continuing to expand on their lead to 14-6 but the Blazers refused to go down quietly as they matched NEC with three goals of their own bringing it back to within five once more, 14-9.
• From there on the scoring for the Blazers ceased to continue for the remainder of the quarter having their comeback fall short resulting in a conference victory for the 'Grims on the evening, 15-9.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• NEC senior goalkeeper Carleigh Knotts (Dover, Del.) concluded her evening with a solid outing as always collecting 20 saves.
• EC senior goalkeeper Gianna Liquori (East Longmeadow, Mass.) gathered with 11 saves.
• Gilchrist was a big factor for the 'Grims as she led the team in goals, acquiring four goals totaling up to four points marking a season high thus far for the sophomore. She as well as Kelly and McDonald ended up with a hat trick that proved to be a huge contributing factor to the win.
• EC also had someone finish with four goals and four points in junior midfielder in Greta Frankwicz (Cape Elizabeth, M.E.)
• NEC was nearly perfect on the night for free position shots going four-for-five and EC went four-for-seven.
• NEC did their part controlling the draw control battle earning 17 of them while EC managed only 11.
• Shots were in favor of the Blazers with 38 and the 'Grims had 34.

 
UP NEXT

• NEC is back on the field on Thursday, April 18^th at 4:00 p.m. when they will be the host for the visiting Beacons of UMass Boston from Don Melander field.
• EC plays their next game at the University of St. Joseph (Conn.) on Saturday, April 20^th at 12:00 p.m. from USJ Athletics Complex.

For continuing coverage of New England College Athletics, visit athletics.nec.edu and follow the Pilgrims on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.