SAINTS OUSTED BY LASELL IN GNAC BATTLE, SUFFER 1-0 ROAD LOSS
NEWTON, Mass. - A goal in the 88th minute by Lasell junior Megan Cullen (Amesbury, Mass.) sent the Emmanuel College women’s soccer team to a 1-0 defeat in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) battle on Saturday afternoon at Taylor Field. The Lasers jump to 3-2-1 overall and continue their win streak in the GNAC at 2-0, while the Saints fall to 2-6 on the year and even out at 1-1 in conference play.
NEWTON, Mass. - A goal in the 88th minute by Lasell junior Megan Cullen (Amesbury, Mass.) sent the Emmanuel College women's soccer team to a 1-0 defeat in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) battle on Saturday afternoon at Taylor Field. The Lasers jump to 3-2-1 overall and continue their win streak in the GNAC at 2-0, while the Saints fall to 2-6 on the year and even out at 1-1 in conference play.
The Lasers began the conference battle with quick shots to net, applying offensive pressure early and often. Freshman Kaleigh Heffernan (Simsbury, Conn.) gave the home team their first scoring opportunity 6:51 in, as she blasted a shot on frame that was scooped up by Saints' sophomore netminder Victoria LaRoche (Hudson, N.H.). Senior Sarah Quintal (Richmond, Vt.) kept Lasell's offense going on the next play, as she made a run up the flank from her defensive position, and sent a soaring ball into the six yard box where junior Mack Kingman (East Bridgewater, Mass.) was denied a home team tally by LaRoche.
The Saints switched gears halfway into the contest and began to test the Lasers' defense. Junior Molly Carey (Lynn, Mass.) set herself up for a breakaway situation in the Saint's offensive third, but misfired the shot just wide to keep the game scoreless 0-0 at Taylor Field.
After the halftime break, freshman Carly Zdanek (Newton, N.J.) took charge for the Lasers' offense and tested LaRoche just one minute into the second stanza. Lasell later lined up for a corner kick at 58:25, taken by sophomore Devon Day (Hartsdale, Vt.). On the cross in, freshman Sabrina Morais (Arlington, Mass.) made her way through Emmanuel's defense, but pushed the ball just over the crossbar.
At 73:35, Emmanuel freshman Brigette Arsenault (Attleboro, Mass.) broke free from the Lasers' defense to create a one on one situation with Lasell sophomore goalkeeper Sarah LaClair (Belchertown, Mass.). Arsenault released a hopeful shot to frame, but was denied the goal as LaClair came out for the diving save, resulting in a Saints' corner.
With just 2:01 left to go in regulation, Cullen capitalized on a lobbed ball played into the box, where she blasted the game-winning goal into the back of the net for the 1-0 triumph.
Lasell doubled up on Emmanuel in shots, 12-6, and both teams earned three corners each.
LaClair earned her first shutout of the season with the win and improves to 2-2 overall, maling two saves. LaRoche drops to 2-6 with the loss, recording seven saves on the day
The Lasers will travel to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth for a non-conference match up on Wednesday, September 23 at 7:00 p.m., while the Saints host the University of Massachusetts Boston on Tuesday, September 22 at 700 p.m.