BLUEJAYS EDGE SAINTS, 2-1

BOSTON, Mass. – The University of Saint Joseph Women's Soccer Team extended its unbeaten streak to eight games with a 2-1 win over Emmanuel College in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action played on Roberto Clemente Field on Wednesday night.  The Bluejays remain undefeated in GNAC play at 5-0-1 and improve to 7-1-1 overall with the win.  The loss drops the Saints to 5-4-1 on the season and 2-2-1 in league play.

Saint Joseph struck first, scoring just eight minutes into the contest.  Junior forward Patricia Nolan (Portland, Conn.) drove 50 yards and drilled a shot past Emmanuel goalkeeper Jessica D'Ottavio (Pawling, N.Y.) for her 4th goal of the season, giving the visitors a 1-0 edge.  Nolan's goal was her 35th career marker, setting a new program record for the Bluejays.

The equalizer for the Saints came just ten minutes later, when junior forward Lindsey Garvey (Warwick, R.I.) sent a short feed off the foot of senior captain Meghan Zerba (Cumberland, R.I.).  The game-tying goal was also Zerba's 4th of the season.
 
Zerba's goal in the 19th minute broke a streak of over 558 scoreless minutes in net for Bluejays freshman keeper Melissa Dodge (Watertown, Conn.).  Dodge, who has been named the GNAC Goalkeeper of the Week for the past two weeks, had allowed just two goals all season, with the last coming on September 8th, six games ago for Saint Joseph.

The remainder of the half was played scoreless for both teams, with the Saints out-shooting the Bluejays, 8-3.  The tide would turn in the second half, with Saint Joseph out-shooting Emmanuel, 9-6.

The go-ahead goal for the Bluejays came just two minutes into the second stanza.  Junior midfielder Nicole Mendelson (Southbury, Conn.) took a corner kick from the left side and bent the ball inside to a cutting Kristin Whitman (South Windsor, Conn.), who tapped in her second goal of the season.  Whitman's goal would hold up as the game-winner in the 2-1 victory for Saint Joseph.

The Saints got two great opportunities to tie things up again late in the game. Senior midfielder Brittany Ridge (Portland, Me.) drilled a rocket toward the bottom left of the Saint Joseph goal with thirteen minutes remaining, but a diving Dodge was there to stifle the play. Zerba then got a great look with eleven minutes to go, but Dodge picked up her sixth save of the night on the play.

Evenly played battle featured Emmanuel owning a 14-12 advantage in shots and Saint Joseph picking up a 5-4 edge in corner kick opportunities.

Dodge made 7 saves and earned her 6th win of the season, improving to 6-0-1 on the year. D'Ottavio took the loss for the Saints and made 2 saves in 90 minutes of action.

Emmanuel is back in action this Saturday, when the Saints travel to Standish, Maine for a GNAC women's and men's soccer double-header with the Monks of Saint Joseph's College.  The women's game is slated to kick off at noon with men's action beginning at approximately 2:30 PM.  The Bluejays will take the weekend off and return to action next Wednesday, October 3, when they travel to Lasell for a 4:00 PM GNAC match-up with the Lasers.