The St. Joseph’s College of Maine women’s lacrosse team is starting to hit its stride, and Cony High School graduate Cassie Diplock has been a big reason why.

Diplock, a senior, ranks second in the Greater Northeast Conference with 38 goals and has helped the Monks to a 5-0 start in league play.

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LEADING THE WAY: Cony graduate Cassie Diplock has 38 goals so far this season for St. Joseph’s College. The Monks are 6-5 overall and 5-0 in the Greater Northeast Conference. Contributed photo

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Diplock says. “I’m going to enjoy my last year the best I can.”

The Augusta native played a big part in a pair of victories for the Monks (6-5, 5-0 GNAC) last week, including scoring the game-winner in a 12-11, triple-overtime victory over Regis College (Mass.) last Thursday. The Monks trailed 10-9 with less than four minutes remaining when Diplock went to work, scoring back-to-back, unassisted goals with 3:40 and 2:53 remaining, respectively, to give St. Joe’s a one-goal lead.

Regis’ Sam Salamone — who like Diplock, finished with six goals last Thursday — answered with 58 seconds remaining to force overtime. It was Diplock who had the last laugh though, as she finally gave her team the win after two scoreless overtime periods. Diplock buried the ball in the back of the net at the 4:47 mark of the third extra session.

Saturday, Diplock was solid again, as she had a pair of timely goals in a 10-8 victory over Lasell College (5-5, 3-2 GNAC). After Lasell’s Brittney Wuorio gave the Lasers the lead just 1:19 into the contest, Diplock answered with a score of her own 18 seconds later to knot the game. The goal sparked a run of four straight for the Monks, although it was Lasell that ultimately took a 7-6 lead into the break after a pair of goals in the final minute of the opening half.

St. Joseph’s took control with three unanswered goals out of halftime to take a 9-7 lead, but the Lasers refused to go away quietly. Wuorio cut the deficit to a single goal with her score with 9:21 remaining, but once again it was Diplock — the Monks’ leading scorer — there to shut the door as her goal with 3:41 left gave St. Joe’s the breathing room it needed to hang on for the win. Saturday’s victory was the fifth in a row for the Monks, as they continue their tear after a rough start to the year. St. Joe’s opened with a 20-1 drubbing of Albertus Magnus, but followed by dropping its next five games to Whitter, Occidental, Thomas, Bates and Southern Maine, respectively.

“The difference was we all came together as a team,” Diplock says. “A lot of us are seniors, and it’s nice because we all have each other’s back. It’s making a huge difference for our team.”

One player who has had Diplock’s back for a long time is classmate and Cony grad Macy Pagurko. The two have been playing together since their time with the Rams, and have brought that chemistry with them to St. Joe’s.

“It’s been really nice. It’s been comforting,” Diplock says. “We know how each other plays, and we’re both playing high attack.”

The duo was back in action Tuesday night as St. Joe’s hosted Emmanuel College (results unavailable at press time) with first place in the GNAC on the line. The Saints also entered the contest unbeaten in league play at 7-0 (8-2 overall).

The Monks will next play Thursday at 4 p.m. when they travel to take on the University of Saint Joseph’s in West Hartford, Conn.

“We’re very excited but we have a lot of tough games left,” Diplock says. “We’ve learned we have to fight for every game, and each game is going to be a challenge for sure.”

Evan Crawley——621-5640 ecrawley@mainetoday.com Twitter: @EvanCrawley_MTM

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