WATERBURY, Connecticut - A career-best seven assists from Jessica Lawler led the way as the American International College women's lacrosse team cruised to an 18-2 victory over Post University on April 20.
AIC's record improves to 2-11 overall.
Lawler opened the scoring just 1:30 into the game, her 12th of the season, and that opened AIC's best offensive half of the season. Stefanie Dufresne extended the lead to 2-0 at 5:52, and then Lawler got to work, setting up Riley Brennan for two goals in 37 seconds.
Dufresne added an assist by dishing to Lauren Witherspoon for a goal at 8:04 before Lawler connected with Brennan a third time at 8:59 and then with Dufresne at 9:26 to pad the lead at 7-0. Dufresne in turn set up Erica McLean at 14:49 before Kelsey Daniels snapped home a free-position bid at 15:44.
Mikayla Demanche scored the next two, expanding the edge into double digits, on assists from Lawler at 16:50 and McLean at 20:05, and then Daniels scored on an extra-man opportunity with a pass from Deanna Fortin at 22:03. The scoring was capped late in the half as Brittany Hutchison potted a goal at 28:08 to make the advantage 13-0.
On the other end of the field, the Eagles did have chances, but were stymied by Alexis Torosian, who recaptured the Northeast-10 Conference lead in saves by going six-for-six to raise her season total to 126 in her 30 minutes of play. Torosian would end up the goalkeeper of record in the game, improving to 2-11 on the season.
In the second half, Melanie Corso started the scoring for AIC, netting her first of the campaign just 1:49 into the half; Witherspoon scored a second goal at 11:30 before Lawler set up Brennan for a fourth tally, her team-best 29th of the year, at 16:46.
The Eagles did break the shutout, scoring twice on free-position shots in the last six minutes, but the final two goals of the day belonged to AIC, as Lawler picked up her seventh assist by setting up Hutchison, who slung a shot behind her back and off the left post for a goal at 28:12, and then Witherspoon hit the stick of Jocylyn Deome as she flew down the middle and fired high right corner at 29:09 for her first collegiate goal.
Chelsea Davis was strong in net in the second half, stopping five shots in the final 30.
The Yellow Jackets return home to Abdow Field and to Northeast-10 action on April 22 at 7 p.m. when they celebrate Senior Night and host the Southern New Hampshire University Penmen.
