Women's Lacrosse Tries to Rally Late in Non-Conference Contest with FDU-Florham

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Women's Lacrosse team hosted Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham for a non-conference game on Thursday evening at Leary Field.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 9 | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham 16
Records: Blazers 0-6, 0-4 (GNAC) | Devils 3-5, 0-0 (MAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

In the first quarter, junior midfielder Rachel Dort (Chicopee, Mass.) would win the opening draw, and the two non-conference foes would begin the game trading shots, with Elms taking three-straight shots by sophomore attack Lily Sheridan (Ashby, Mass.), senior midfielder Jackie Cronin (Smithtown, N.Y.), and Dort, but FDU-Florham would be the first to score. As the contest would continue, the Blazers would see additional shots from first year midfielder Zellia Fanfa (Brunswick, NY.) and Cronin, but the Devils would add their second goal of the game. As the quarter continued, junior goalkeeper Marisa LaRocque (Agawam, Mass.) would make a save, followed by a shot from first year attack Chloe Sullivan (Hampden, Mass.), and then Cronin would find the back of the net for her first goal of the evening. Dort would then win the following draw and take a free position shot, but FDU-Florham would extend their lead with a third goal. In the final moments of the quarter, Cronin would earn a draw control and take a shot, but the Devils would keep their 3-1 lead at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter would begin with a draw control collected by Fanfa and a quick goal from Dort. Shortly thereafter, LaRocque would make a save, followed by a shot by sophomore attack Amanda Reed (Somers, Conn.) and back-to-back goals from Cronin to take a 4-3 lead. As the quarter would continue, Cronin would record a draw control, Fanfa would take a shot, and LaRocque would make two saves, but FDU-Florham would retake the lead after scoring five goals, and go into the halftime break with an 8-4 lead.

The third quarter would see LaRocque make a save in the opening minute, but the Devils would extend their lead with another goal. As the quarter would continue, the Blazers would see shots from Fanfa, Cronin, and Dort, while LaRocque would make three saves, but FDU-Florham would score four more goals, to extend their lead to 13-4. Then, in the closing minutes of the quarter, Fanfa would win a draw control, which would lead to Dort scoring a free position goal, followed by a draw control win by Dort that would result in a goal by Cronin, along with a draw collected by Cronin, to create some offensive momentum for Elms going into the fourth quarter. The Blazers would carry the momentum into the fourth quarter after a quick shot by Sheridan. Then, seconds later, Cronin would score her fifth goal of the evening to bring the score to within four points, but the Devils' offense would continue to keep pressure on the Blazers by adding a goal soon thereafter. LaRocque would add a save, and then Dort would score back-to-back goals, along with a draw control win by Cronin. In the final minutes of play, Elms would continue to keep their efforts high, with Cronin adding a shot and draw control, LaRocque making three saves, and additional shots from junior defender/attack Shea Barron (Wallingford, Conn.), Sheridan, and Fanfa. Unfortunately, the Blazers would be unable to find the back of the net, and FDU-Florham would score two final goals to secure the 16-9 victory over Elms.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Cronin would score five goals, with ten shots, five draw controls, two ground balls, and two caused turnovers.

• Dort would score four goals, with seven shots, three draw controls, and two ground balls.

• LaRocque would make 13 saves of the 29 shots she faces, while recording two ground balls and causing a turnover.

• Fanfa would take four shots, with two draw controls and a ground ball.

• Sheridan would take three shots, with a ground ball.

• Barron would cause three turnovers and collect two ground balls.

• Cellucci would record two caused turnovers and a ground ball.

• Sullivan and Reed would each take a shot.

• Olsen would record a ground ball.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Women's Lacrosse team will host Simmons University in a conference game on Saturday, March 21st at 10 am at Leary Field.

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