MILTON, Mass.- Second-seeded Curry College defeated #3 Lasell College 20-12 on Wednesday in an ECAC Division III New England Championship semi-final game. With the win, the Colonels advance to the Championship finals, where they will face the #1 seed, Western New England. The Colonels improve to 16-4 overall while the Lasers end their season at 11-7.
The Colonels were the first to get on the board at the 26:23 mark on a goal by senior Jessie Koffman (Andover, MA) assisted by senior Ashley Hansbury (Chelmsford, MA). Curry took a two goal lead when Hansbury won the draw control, beating all Lasell defenders and scoring unassisted. Just one minute later Lasell scored their first of the night off a goal by senior Tina Canavan (Stonington, CT). Canavan tied the game at two apiece when freshman Erin Gertonson (Bayport, NY) sent a pass to a wide open Canavan in front of the net. The teams traded goals just 52 seconds apart from each other and remained tied 3-3 over the next four minutes. That would be the last time the teams would be tied as the Colonels went on to score six unanswered goals and held the Lasers scoreless until the 10:00 minute mark. Sophomores Neila Kudla (Groton, MA) and Rebecca Stanton (Agawam, MA) scored back-to-back goals and Canavan scored the team’s final goal of the half. Curry scored four more to go into half-time with a demanding 13-6 lead. Hansbury, Koffman, junior Lauren Glavin (Billerica, MA) and freshman Caity Tobyne (Wenham, MA) each scored for the Colonels.
Koffman scored the first goal to start the second period, off an assist by Hansbury. Lasell scored the next three goals to cut the Colonels lead to five when Canavan scored two in a row and sophomore Ashley Slattery (Weymouth, MA) scored her first of two of the night. Hansbury answered back when she received a pass from Koffman but just less than one minute later, Canavan would score her sixth. Canavan scored her seventh and final goal of the game to trail the Colonels by just four with 14 minutes remaining. After a timeout call by Curry, the Colonels went on another five goal scoring run to put the game out of reach. Slattery scored the last goal of the game with 1:27 to play and Curry was able to posses the ball for the remainder of the period to come away with the 20-12 win.
Koffman and Hansbury combined for 13 of Curry’s 20 goals. Koffman led the team with 11 points on seven goals and four assists. Hansbury finished with six goals and three assists for nine points. Glavin had two goals and four assists and sophomore Ana Bottary chipped in for three goals. Tobyne and junior Michaela Powers (Falmouth, MA) each had one.
Canavan led the Lasers with seven goals and one assist for eight points. Slattery scored two goals and had three assists for five points. Stanon, Kudla and freshman Brittney Wourio (Bolton, MA) each had one goal.
The Colonels outshot the Lasers, 44-22 and both teams were even with 17 draw controls.
Curry's senior goalie Maria Lynch (Billerica, MA) finished with 10 saves in net for her 16th win of the season in 56:06 minutes of play. Senior Kate Noe (Greenwich, CT) finished out the game allowing just one goal. Senior Kristin Coderre (Monson, MA) made 16 saves in net for Lasell.
Curry will play in the ECAC Championship on May 14 at Western New England with a 1:00 p.m. game time.
Box Score
