WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM DOWNS RIVIER, 7-1
The Emmanuel College Saints rolled to a 7-1 win over Rivier University in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Women’s Soccer action. The Saints final regular season home contest was played under the lights at Roberto Clemente Field on Wednesday night. A win for the Saints was crucial in Emmanuel’s hopes to secure home field advantage in the upcoming GNAC Tournament Quarterfinals. With the victory, the Saints now stand at 11-5-1 overall and 5-3-1 in GNAC play. Rivier falls to 3-10-2 overall, 1-8-2 in the league with the loss.
BOSTON, Mass. - The Emmanuel College Saints rolled to a 7-1 win over Rivier University in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Women's Soccer action. The Saints final regular season home contest was played under the lights at Roberto Clemente Field on Wednesday night. A win for the Saints was crucial in Emmanuel's hopes to secure home field advantage in the upcoming GNAC Tournament Quarterfinals. With the victory, the Saints now stand at 11-5-1 overall and 5-3-1 in GNAC play. Rivier falls to 3-10-2 overall, 1-8-2 in the league with the loss.
With the two prior meetings between these two programs having been decided by one goal, the Saints wasted no time in jumping out in front. Following a corner kick on the right side by Darcey Sullivan (Dalton, Mass.), junior midfielder Ashley Cervin (Milford, Conn.) rocketed a shot from 20 yards out past Rivier's junior keeper Cassandra Brown (Somersworth, N.H.). Cervin's goal, coming in the 17th minute, was her first of the season and gave the Saints an early, 1-0 advantage.
Emmanuel netted an insurance goal in the 33rd minute, when freshman Katelyn Fink (Sanford, Me.) put a short cross through to senior captain Meghan Zerba (Cumberland, R.I.). Zerba calmly snuck the ball by Brown for her sixth marker of the season and Emmanuel led 2-0.
The Raiders had a great opportunity with seven minutes remaining in the half. Junior midfielder Mariah Payne (Concord, N.H.) ripped a shot over the Emmanuel defense, but it ricocheted off the cross bar.
One final score before the half would give the Saints a three-goal advantage at the break. Freshman midfielder Tess McCarthy (North Attleboro, Mass.) set up classmate Amanda Roberts perfectly in front of the Rivier goal. McCarthy spun to her right and drilled a shot into the back of the net, scoring for the fifth time in her collegiate career. McCarthy's goal came with just 33 seconds remaining in the half.
The Saints out-shot the Raiders, 15-5 (9-2 SOG), in the opening frame and held a 5-1 margin in corner kicks.
Out of the break, Emmanuel tacked on another marker. Sullivan netted a shot on a rebound off Lindsey Garvey's (Warwick, R.I.) shot at 53:22 and the Saints held a 4-0 lead. At the opposite end the Raiders got another great look, but Holly Slocum (Holden, Mass.) sliced her point blank shot off the cross bar. Three minutes later, the Saints put another one on the board. Senior captain Brittany Ridge (Portland, Me.) lofted a deep shot from 30 yards out over the extended arms of back-up keeper Kendra Shaw. Ridge's goal was her first of the year and Emmanuel went up, 5-0, with 28 minutes left to play.
Garvey dished out her second assist of the night, this time with Roberts on the receiving end. A quick pass just outside the box on the right side to a cutting Roberts resulted in the freshman's second goal of the night and her sixth of the season. The marker coming at 79:24 put the Saints ahead, 6-0.
Emmanuel would notch one final tally before it was over. Freshman Hannah Konicki (Milford, Conn.) drove from midfield on a breakaway and netted a shot at 81:46. The Raiders found the scoreboard in the 85th minute, when junior forward Laura Tampossi (Hollis, N.H.) got one past Emmanuel freshman goalkeeper Jenna Marcello (Hopedale, Mass.). Another Slocum shot off the crossbar late in the contest was as close as the Raiders would get and Emmanuel came away with the 7-1 win.
The hosts finished the night out-shooting the Raiders, 26-14 (17-5 SOG), and holding a 6-4 edge in corner kicks.
Senior keeper Jessica D'Ottavio (Pawling, N.Y.) earned her 9th win of the season, playing the opening 61 minutes in goal for Emmanuel. D'Ottavio made 2 saves and allowed zero goals. Marcello relieved D'Ottavio in net for the remaining 29 minutes, making 2 saves and allowing the one Rivier goal.
Brown and Shaw each played a half for the Raiders. The duo combined for 10 saves in the effort.
The Saints have one final regular season game. Emmanuel will travel to New Haven, Connecticut on Saturday afternoon for a GNAC women's and men's double-header with the Falcons of Albertus Magnus College. The Emmanuel women are scheduled to kick off at 1:00 PM. Rivier will host Pine Manor College in the Raiders' senior day game on Saturday at 1:00 PM.