HENNIKER, N.H. – The New England College women's lacrosse team put themselves to the test against the visiting Sharks of Simmons University in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Tuesday at Don Melander Field in Henniker, New Hampshire.
 
THE BASICS
Score:                    Simmons University 15, New England College 5
Records:               Sharks 6-6, 4-2 GNAC | Pilgrims 3-6, 1-4 GNAC
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Things in the first quarter were favoring the Sharks early on as they managed to tack on three goals with the first two credited to junior Frida Turriza (Windham, N.H.) and one to sophomore Campbell Crane (Portsmouth, R.I.).
• NEC had a response to the offensive display by Simmons in the later half of the quarter at 3:37 sophomore midfielder Mackenzie McDonald (Boscawen, N.H.) was awarded a free position shot after being on the receiving end of a foul that turned into goal that got the 'Grims onto the board with the score at 3-1.
• The quarter wrapped up with the Sharks finding the back of the net one final time at 1:10 after a green card was assessed to graduate midfielder Cassie Kelly (Alexandria, Minn.) that helped make for the goal to be a man-up opportunity ending in a 4-1 lead for SU.
• Things were off to a solid start for the 'Grims as they tried to rally back in the first 2:19 of play in the second quarter as they scored the first two goals with some impressive movement around the net that lead to Kelly finding an open cutting sophomore attacker Meadow Gilchrist (Stamford, Conn.) followed up with another Gilchrist goal that brought the deficit to within just a goal for NEC 4-3.
• This comeback didn't phase the Sharks as Turriza took matters into her own hands scoring yet another goal that brought their lead to within two 5-3.
• The Defense looked to standout in the remainder of the quarter for the 'Grims not allowing anymore SU goals to take place as they went into halftime, but NEC looked to be compromised for the rest of the game after being dealt a yellow card that was again credited to Kelly that resulted in her exit from the conference game putting them in a tremendous disadvantage going forward.
• NEC tried not to allow this to anchor them down from trying to make their stand in the third quarter as they struck first with a goal that came from freshman midfielder Alexis Hornsby (Atkinson, N.H.) in the first 29 seconds bringing it back to within one score, 5-4.
• SU continued to find ways to score throughout the quarter as they put two more onto the scoreboard to make it 7-4. The 'Grims would refuse to back down  at 3:51 senior attacker Nathalie Antigua (North Brunswick, N.J.) secured an NEC goal with the score now 7-5 still in favor of the Sharks.
• After that things began to get a bit messy for the Sharks as they were compiling a number of cards as they tallied up four consecutive cards that bestowed the 'Grims man-up opportunities that weren't able to equate in goals.
• In the final seconds of the quarter the Sharks looked to show no let up in their lead as they scored two quick goals to help stretch the lead out to 9-5 before the clock expired.
• The fourth quarter was simply all SU in this one continuing to keep their foot on the gas in this one scoring six straight with NEC having no response offensively as they struggled not having one of their leaders in Kelly who is first in caused turnovers with 51, tied first in goals having 20, second in points acquiring 27, and third in assists totaling up seven for the team that concluded in the conference victory for the Sharks, 15-5.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• The star for the 'Grims was Gilchrist finishing with two goals on the evening.
• SU Turriza was a problem for NEC causing all kinds of havoc on the field, ending her night with six goals. Crane, junior Kat Wood (Chelmsford, Mass.), and junior Maddie Desimio-Maloney (Newburyport, Mass.) scored two goals respectively amongst themselves.
• NEC senior goalkeeper Carleigh Knotts (Dover, Del.) made the most of her outing as she made some big saves on the evening that resulted in gathering 21 saves.
• SU freshman Anya Younie (Weymouth, Mass.) made seven saves.
• The Sharks out shot the 'Grims by considerably large margin as put up 48 shots to NEC's 18 attempted.
• Turnovers proved to be a problem for NEC in this outing as they accumulated 35 compared to SU's 22. Clears for NEC ended with them going 12-for-28 opposed to SU's 17-for-24 success rate.

 
UP NEXT

• NEC is back on the field as they'll be the host for the Falcons of Albertus Magnus College from Don Melander Field on Saturday, April 6^th at 1:00 p.m.
• SU plays their next game at home as they'll continue conference play against the Cadets of Norwich University Saturday, April 6^th at 1:00 p.m.

 
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