BOSTON, MA – Saint Joseph's College (6-4, 3-1 GNAC) fell to Simmons College (6-1, 5-0 GNAC), 15-10, in GNAC women's lacrosse action on Saturday afternoon.

Simmons scored two quick goals as Ashley Sheehan (North Attleboro, Mass.) and Callie Warnock (Kingston, Mass.) beat Monks goalkeeper Haley Nason (Saco, Maine) to give the Sharks the lead. Saint Joseph's leading scoring Cassie Diplock (Augusta, Maine) cut the Monks' deficit to one two minutes later. The Sharks took a 4-1 lead when Stephanie Oliveri (Waltham, Mass.) picked a corner and Leanne Luke (Newton, Mass.) scored her fourth goal of the year off a free-position shot.

But the Monks clawed back as Diplock beat Sharks keeper Kelly Last (West Haven, Conn.) down low and Anneka Adame (San Diego, Calif.) slipped two quick goals past the Simmons defense to tie the game at four.

Warnock scored unassisted to give the Sharks a 5-4 lead with 17:38 remaining in the first Saint Joseph's junior Macy Pagurko (Augusta, Maine) netted a free-position marker and sophomore Lizzie Calnan (Westport, Mass.) scored on a bounce shot to provide the Monks with their first lead of the game.

Simmons tied the game at six as Oliveri rolled the crease and beat Nason before sophomore Wellie Antonellis (Keene, N.H.) tallied her first goal of the year to retake the lead for the Sharks. Freshman Greer Gilbert (Falmouth, Mass.) added two final goals for Simmons to end the half up 9-6.

Simmons never trailed in the second half but the Monks were relentless in their attack with goals by Kat Gadbois (Scarborough, Maine), Mary Leasure (South Portland, Maine/McAuley), Adame and Pagurko. After leading by three for over ten minutes in the second, the Sharks opened up their offense as Rachel Wallace (Braintree, Mass.) added two goals and Sheehan added a final goal with one second remaining on the clock to give the Sharks a 15-10 victory.

Simmons held advantage in draw controls (15-10) and in shots (37-30). Last picked up her fifth win of the season with 12 saves on 22 shots while Nason suffered the loss after making 10 saves for the Monks.

The Sharks return to action on Wednesday, April 3rd when they the host Johnson & Wales University club team at 7:00 p.m. The Monks host Regis College on Thursday April 4th at Deering Memorial Stadium at 7:30 p.m.

COURTESY OF SIMMONS COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION

Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 350-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.