Women's Lacrosse Defeats Albertus Magnus for First Win of the Season

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Women's Lacrosse team hosted Albertus Magnus College in conference action on Saturday afternoon.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 15 | Albertus Magnus College 3
Records: Blazers 1-3, 1-1 (GNAC) | Falcons 0-4, 0-2 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

At the start of the first quarter, Albertus would be the first ones to score, but Elms would answer back with a goal made by junior attack/midfielder Jackie Cronin (Smithtown, N.Y.). Cronin would win the draw for the Blazers. After a turnover, Elms would get the ball back and Cronin would score her second goal of the game. The Falcons were unsuccessful in a clear attempt and would turn the ball over to the Blazers. This gave senior midfielder/attacker Greta Frankwicz (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) the opportunity to score from a free position shot. The Blazers would end the first quarter in the lead 3-1. Elms would come out strong in the second quarter, with a goal made by Frankwicz that was assisted by Cronin. The Blazers would put up a fight against Albertus, which would end with Cronin making a goal from a free position. Then Elms would win the draw and then with a successful clear attempt, Cronin would score again with a little over a minute left in the second quarter. With 30 seconds left, the Falcons would score, but at the end of the second quarter, Elms would hold the lead, 6-2.

During the halftime break, the Assistant Commisioner of the GNAC, Janard Jones (left), would present Elise Paier '24 (West Springfield, Mass.) (right) with a plaque in honor of her being named the 2023-2024 GNAC Women's Athlete of the Year. During the 2024 season, Paier would finish with a career-high 41 goals and six assists, scoring 47 points. She also recorded 21 ground balls, 16 draw controls, and 23 caused turnovers. With 85 shots, 61 of those shots on goal, Paier would finish the season with a 48.2 shooting percentage and a 71.8 shots on goal percentage. Paier would cap her collegiate career with 123 goals, 42 assists, and 165 points. In the classroom, her efforts were exceptional. Elise graduated from Elms with a 4.00 cumulative GPA, earning her undergraduate degree in Nursing.

We would see a different narrative going into the third quarter, where the Blazers would be the first to score. This happened by a turnover made by Albertus, which gave first year midfielder Ali Sullivan (Chicopee, Mass.) the opportunity to put the ball in the back of the net. The Falcons would turn over the ball again and Frankwicz would have a successful ground ball. Then Cronin would pass the ball to junior attack Katherine Ingram (Chicopee, Mass.) who would score her first collegiate goal. Cronin would get a ground ball pick up and Sullivan would score her second goal of the game. After back and forth, Elms would have a successful clear attempt and Cronin would score again. After a goal made by Albertus, Sullivan would pass the ball to Cronin who would score. The ball would go back and forth again, but at the end of the third quarter, Elms would hold the lead, 11-3. Even though the Falcons won the draw control Cronin would win the ground ball and would pass the ball to Frankwicz who would score. Then Frankwicz would win the draw and Sullivan would score with an assist from Cronin. Elms would score again with a goal made by first year defender Mia Pacheco (Somerville, Mass.). Cronin would win the draw and would score again for the Blazers. The ball would go back and forth for the last 9 minutes, but Elms would take home the win 15-3.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Cronin would score seven goals, with four assists, nine ground balls, five draw controls, and seven caused turnovers.

• Frankwicz added three goals, with three ground balls, a draw control, and three caused turnovers.

• Sullivan would add three goals, an assist, and five draw controls.

• Ingram would score her first collegiate career goal and recorded a draw control.

• Pacheco scored a goal and caused a turnover.

• Coach Patty Pehnke would win her first game as the head coach of the program.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Women's Lacrosse team will travel to Standish, Maine to faceoff against Saint Joseph's College, Maine in a conference game on Saturday, March 22nd at 2 pm.

--

For continuing coverage of Elms College Athletics, visit www.ecblazers.com and follow the Blazers on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.