WOMEN’S SOCCER BLANKS RIVIER IN GNAC WIN, 2-0

THE BASICS 

Scores:                       
Rivier University, 0; Emmanuel College, 2
Records:         
Emmanuel College Saints (6-2, 2-0 GNAC)
Rivier University Raiders (1-4, 0-4 GNAC)
Location:        
Boston, Mass. – Roberto Clemente Field
Date:              
Thursday, September 20, 2018

THE LEAD: Senior forward Kayla Generis (Wethersfield, Conn.) and junior forward Natalie Dash (East Hampton, Conn.) netted second half goals to power the Emmanuel College women's soccer team past Rivier University, 2-0, Thursday evening in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action at Roberto Clemente Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED  

• The Raiders defense held Emmanuel in check in the opening stanza, keeping the game scoreless despite the Saints outshooting Rivier by a 10-0 margin in the half.
• Emmanuel's best look in the opening frame came in the final minute when junior Kaylin Deschenes (Lynn, Mass.) broke free on a breakaway but Rivier junior keeper Kasey Smith (Hopkinton, N.H.) came off her line to smother the opportunity and keep the game scoreless heading into the intermission.
• EC netted the eventual game-winner during the 56^th minute of play as senior Mikayla Guthrie (North Andover, Mass.) was able to get deep into the Raiders zone on the right wing before playing a cross to Generis on the opposite side of the pitch. Generis was able to find the back of the net with her second goal of the year off the cross to give Emmanuel the 1-0 lead with 34:57 to play in the half.
• The Saints sealed the win in the 82^nd minute with an insurance goal to bump the lead to 2-0. Deschenes took a direct kick from just outside the penalty area with a low strike to that forced Smith to make a diving save to her right. Dash was able to clean up the rebound for her seventh goal in seven games.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• Dash becomes the first Emmanuel player to score in seven consecutive matches since Amber (DiNucci) Slone '11 accomplished the feat during her rookie season in 2007 when she scored in eight straight games.
• Emmanuel outshot Rivier by a 23-0 margin and in two GNAC contests has now combined to outshoot their opponents by a 56-2 margin.
• EC junior keeper Lexi Gawron (South Hadley, Mass.) earned the win with her second shutout of the year, and the team's fourth clean sheet.
• Smith was stellar in defeat, making 11 saves to fall to 1-4 on the campaign.
• The Saints are now 17-5 all-time against the Raiders and have won eight straight against Rivier.

UP NEXT

• Both squads have a quick turnaround with GNAC contests on Saturday afternoon. The Saints play host to Norwich University at 12:00 PM while the Raiders travel to Newton, Mass. to take on Lasell at 1:00 PM.