PORTLAND, Maine- Top-seeded Saint Joseph's College (16-1, 9-0 GNAC) will host #2 Lasell College (12-5, 8-1 GNAC) in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Women's Lacrosse Tournament Championship contest tonight at 7:00 PM at Memorial Stadium in Portland.

Both teams are vying for an opportunity to challenge for the eighth GNAC Women's Lacrosse Championship, a contest that will be hosted by the highest remaining seed on Sunday. The GNAC began sponsoring in the spring of 2008 and the winner of the conference title match earns an automatic berth into the NCAA DIII National Tournament, which begins on Wednesday, May 6th.

What have you done lately?

The Monks enter tonight's match-up riding a team record 16-game win streak, with their only blemish of the season coming at the hands of the University of New England in the season opener on March 1st. Saint Joseph's cruised to victory in the quarterfinal match-up against Rivier University, 21-5 Wednesday, before obtaining revenge on Emmanuel College, a team that defeated the Monks in last year's GNAC Championship 17-5, in a physical 15-8 victory on Friday night.

Much of the Monks' success this year stems from their persistent offensive attack and strong defensive showings, as the Royal Blue lead the conference in goals (269), assists (132), goals per game (15.82), shots on goal (450), a caused turnovers (217), goals against (119), and goals against average (6.96).  Nationally for NCAA Division III, the Monks are ranked in win percentage, (.941, 3rd) ground balls per game (29.35, 6th), scoring margin (8.82, 7th), caused turnovers (12.76, 10th), and scoring defense (7.00, 13th).

Lasell comes into this evening's match-up winning five straight contests, handling the Cadets of Norwich in the GNAC Quarterfinal action 18-6 before topping Johnson and Wales 18-11 on Friday.  The Lasers rank second in the GNAC in goals (241), goals-per game (14.18), shots on goal (408), shooting percentage (48.1), and third in assists (111), caused turnovers (173, and goals-against average (7.95). Nationally, the Lasers rank ninth in save percentage (.536).

Who to watch- Saint Joseph's

The Monks have no shortage of offensive threats this spring, with a roster that features seven players tallying over 30 points, lead by freshman Elyse Caiazzo (Scarborough, Maine/Cheverus) whom has logged 63 goals and 19 assists.

Junior attack Mary Leasure (South Portland, Maine/McAuley) leads the GNAC with a team-record 44 assists and has scored 26 goals to account for a total of 70 points while junior midfielder Kat Gadbois (Scarborough, Maine) has recorded 41 goals and 21 assists for 62 points while picking up a conference-high 85 ground balls.

Sophomore midfielder Jackie Wilson (Tiverton, R.I.) comes into tonight's contest, playing arguably her best lacrosse in her short Saint Joseph's career.  The last two games combined, Wilson has tailed 22 draw-controls, six goals, and three assists for the Monks.

Who to watch- Lasell

Six players have posted over 30 points for the Lasers. Led by senior midfielder Toni Minelli (Newington, Conn.), who has netted 33 goals and contributed 24 assists. Junior attack Bridget Doherty (Franklin, Mass.) leads the way for Lasell in terms of goals with 42, adding 12 assists for 54 total points this season.

Senior goalkeeper Alexa Katsigianis (Amherst, Mass.) leads the GNAC in save percentage (53.6) and holds a goal against average of 8.06 in her final season as a Laser.

Attitude reflects leadership

Head Coach Rupert Lewis, the first head coach in Saint Joseph's women's lacrosse history, played a significant role in lifting the former club program to NCAA DIII varsity status, as the Monks played under his watch during the squad's inaugural season (2008). In two years at the helm for the fledgling program, Lewis posted an 11-16 record, including a 5-6 mark in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play, with conference tournament appearances both years.

Cait Connolly is in her fifth season at the helm for the Lasers. A 2005 graduate of Regis College, Connolly was hired as the head field hockey and women's lacrosse coach at Lasell College in the summer of 2010.  Connolly came to Lasell after a three year stint at Daniel Webster College where she was appointed the first head coach of field hockey and women's lacrosse programs at Daniel Webster College in January of 2007. Charged with establishing two varsity programs from scratch, Connolly's programs saw significant progress during her time there.

Connolly and the Lasers have had a consistent run of success in the GNAC over the past five years, posting a record of 39-6 in conference play. For the Lasers, this will be their fourth Championship appearance in five years, winning it all in 2013.

The last time we met:

The Monks came out firing in the first half of the team's regular season contest on March 28th in Portland, holding a 7-0 lead at the half. Lasell would not back down, holding the Monks to just two second half goals while netting seven, eventually falling to the Monks 9-7.

Historically speaking:

Saint Joseph's posts a 3-6 record in the series history with Lasell College, winning the last two matchups dating back to last spring.