LASELL NIPS EMMANUEL, 2-1, IN OVERTIME HOME OPENER

BOSTON, Mass. – Lasell College junior forward Sam Peck (Woodbury, Conn.) netted the overtime game-winning goal to lead the Lasers to a 2-1 victory over the host Emmanuel College Saints in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Women's Soccer action on Saturday afternoon.  The game at Roberto Clemente Field marked the home opener for the Saints, who drop to .500 at 3-3 on the season and 1-1 in conference play.  Lasell improves to 5-1 overall and remains unbeaten at 3-0 in the league with the win.

The Lasers, who were voted the pre-season favorites to win the GNAC, had to battle back from 1-0 deficit before picking up the overtime win.  Emmanuel got on the board quickly, scoring first with a goal coming in just the seventh minute of play.  Senior forward Meghan Zerba (Cumberland, R.I.) put back a deflection off Lasell's sophomore keeper Leah Pappalardo (Whitman, Mass.), which found the back of the net for her 3rd goal of the season.  Junior forward Lindsey Garvey (Warwick, R.I.) was credited with the assist on the play.

Not two minutes later, the Lasers recorded the equalizer, when Molly Fitzgerald (Haverhill, Mass.) sprinted the length of the field and drilled a shot into the right side of the Emmanuel goal.  The sophomore forward's goal came at 8:09 and tied the game at 1-all.

The two clubs battled relentlessly through the first forty-five minutes of action, but went into halftime knotted in a dead heat.  The Saints out-shot the Lasers, 11-9 in the first half.

A scoreless second half saw the two teams matched in total shots, taking seven apiece.  The visitors led the hosts, 7-5 in shots on goal for the game.  However, the one that would count came in the fifth minute of extended play, when Peck received a feed from Fitzgerald to end the contest at 2-1 in favor of Lasell.

Pappalardo earned the win for the Lasers, making 4 saves and picking up her 5th win of the season.  Senior goalkeeper Jessica D'Ottavio (Pawling, N.Y.) took the loss for the Saints, but made 5 stops in the effort.

Emmanuel will play at home again on Monday night, September 17th, when the Saints host the Leopards of Wentworth Institute of Technology in a 7:00 PM start.  Lasell will host Mount Ida College on Tuesday afternoon in a GNAC game, beginning at 4:00 PM.