CAMBRIDGE, MA – In a battle for first place in the New England Collegiate Conference, Lesley University distanced itself from its top competitor convincingly on Tuesday night, using a pair of early goals to pace a commanding 5-0 win over visiting Becker College.
Bringing the nation's highest scoring offense into the match at over five goals per game, Lynx midfielder Veronica Halen (San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic) scored her league-leading 13th and 14th goals, and senior Jenna Fralick (Woburn, MA/Woburn) tied a program record with three assists as Lesley improved to 9-3-0.
With both teams entering at 4-0-0 in NECC play, it was the Lynx that took control in ensuring they remained undefeated. Halen struck at 6:53 on a pair of passes across the box from the league's second and third leading scorers, Fralick and Jackee Sanchez (Santa Clarita, CA/Golden Valley), leaving Halen open from point blank range.
Lesley added a second goal less than four minutes later, when Fralick fielded a broken corner kick and passed to Katherine Bradley (Colchester, CT/Bacon Academy), who sent home her third goal of the season to up the lead to 2-0 at the 10:44 mark.
The Lynx put in another before halftime, with Casey Decareau finishing on a header off an Alexis Giusti (Meridian, CA/Yuba City) corner kick at 38:36. Lesley went into the intermission up 3-0, outshooting Becker 11-0 and earning five corner kicks to zero for the Hawks.
Fralick added her record-tying third assist as Halen upped her league lead to 14 goals at 65:29, and Giusti's seventh goal of the season at 83:00 rounded out the scoring at 5-0.
Becker goalkeeper Kaitlyn Rose (North Attleboro, MA/North Attleboro) secured 10 saves as the Hawks dropped to 6-5-2 overall and 4-1-0 in NECC play.
Fralick's record ties teammate Sarah Apgar, who totaled three assists earlier this season in a win at Anna Maria.
Lesley has now outscored its opponents 52-0 over its last six matches.
The Lynx return to action on Saturday against Southern Vermont.
