Simmons Swims Past Women’s Lacrosse, 19-3

CHICOPEE, Mass. - The Elms College Women's Lacrosse team hosted Simmons University for a conference game on Saturday morning at Leary Field.

BASICS
Score: Elms College 3 | Simmons University 19
Records: Blazers 0-7, 0-5 (GNAC) | Sharks 3-3, 3-2 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Saturday morning conference matchup would see the two teams trading possession early, with senior midfielder Jackie Cronin (Smithtown, N.Y.) and first year midfielder Zellia Fanfa (Brunswick, N.Y.) winning the first two draw controls, but Simmons would score first. Sophomore attack Lily Sheridan (Ashby, Mass.) would take the first shot for Elms, and Cronin would win her second draw control, but the Sharks would continue to score, scoring five goals in five minutes of game play. Simmons would take a shot and find the back of the net, but after further review by the officials, the goal would be removed due to an illegal stick. Even with the goal taken away, the Sharks would continue to apply pressure on the Blazers' defense, adding two goals to take an 8-0 lead, but before the end of the quarter, junior goalkeeper Marisa LaRocque (Agawam, Mass.) would record her first save of the game. The second quarter would begin with the two conference foes battling for possession, with LaRocque making five saves, but Simmons would score four goals. Then in the final minute of the quarter, Sheridan would win a draw control that would lead to a shot by first year attack Chloe Sullivan (Hampden, Mass.) that would hit the crossbar and an up-goal from junior midfielder Rachel Dort (Chicopee, Mass.) for the Elms' first goal. But the Sharks would go into the halftime break with a 12-1 lead.

Simmons would begin the third quarter with six goals throughout the quarter. In the final minutes of the third quarter, LaRocque would make a save, Fanfa would score an up-goal, and Dort would win a draw control, but the Sharks would keep their lead, 18-2. The fourth quarter would see the Blazers try to create some offensive momentum, with Fanfa taking a shot on goal, and trying to keep a strong defense, seeing LaRocque make a save, but Simmons would be able to score a goal. Shortly thereafter, junior defender/attack Shea Barron (Wallingford, Conn.) would gain possession of the ball and drive her way to the net for a goal. As the quarter would continue, the two intrastate opponents would battle for possession, with LaRocque adding three saves and Barron taking a shot that would hit the post. Unfortunately, the second half efforts from Elms would not be enough to defeat Simmons, as the Sharks would defeat the Blazers 19-3.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Dort would score a goal, with five ground balls, three caused turnovers, and a draw control.

• Fanfa would score a goal, with two shots, a ground ball, a draw control, and cause a turnover.

• Barron would score a goal, with two shots, two ground balls, and a caused turnover.

• LaRocque would make 11 saves of the 30 shots she faced, with two ground balls.

• Cronin would record two ground balls, two draw controls, and two caused turnovers.

• Sheridan would take a shot, draw control, and cause a turnover.

• Sullivan would take a shot.

• Maffuccio would cause a turnover.

UP NEXT: The Elms College Women's Lacrosse team will travel to Franklin, Mass. for a conference game at Dean College on Wednesday, March 25th at 3:30 pm.

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