SULLIVAN POWERS SAINTS PAST ALBERTUS MAGNUS, 2-1

BOSTON, Mass. – Senior forward Darcey Sullivan (Dalton, Mass.) scored two goals including the game-winner with just 7:35 left in regulation to power the Emmanuel College women's soccer team past Albertus Magnus College, 2-1, Saturday afternoon in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action at Roberto Clemente Field. With the victory, the Saints improve to 9-7-3 overall and 7-2-2 in the GNAC to secure the #4 seed and a Quarterfinal home game in next week's conference tournament. The loss drops the Falcons to 12-4-2 overall, snapping their eight-match winning streak and dropping them to 9-2 in the GNAC which puts them in the #2 spot for the tournament.

Sullivan got the scoring started in the 13^th minute of action with her ninth goal of the 2013 campaign. The senior received a square pass from classmate Donandrea Myette (Portsmouth, R.I.) just outside the Falcons 18-yard box and buried a well struck shot to make it 1-0 in favor of the hosts.

The Saints held a 9-2 shots advantage in the opening frame but the Falcons had a great chance to even the score when sophomore forward Acacia Nelson (Bridgeport, Conn.) slipped past the EC back line on a breakaway but was denied by Emmanuel sophomore keeper Brenna Smith (Wantagh, N.Y.).

The Falcons surged to begin the second half of play and with the wind now at their backs, controlled most of the action in the early goings of the frame. Senior midfielder Amanda Roke (Cheshire, Conn.) evened the score at 1-1 with her 10^th goal of the season on a wind-aided play. The Saints attempted to clear the ball on a goalkick opportunity but the ball hung in the air dropping right at Roke's feet just 25 yards away. The senior used a touch to settle the ball before drilling a shot to the left side of the net to even the score at 1-1 in the 66^th minute.

Albertus continued to put pressure on the Saints, outshooting the hosts 7-5 in the half but the final shot Emmanuel would take would be all they would need to secure the win. With the ball deep in the Falcons territory, freshman forward Courtney Freadman (Richmond, Mass.) put a shot on frame that was blocked by an Albertus defender, ending up at the feet of EC senior forward Lindsey Garvey (Warwick, R.I.). With her back to the goal, Garvey played a nifty ball over her head that eluded Falcons sophomore goalkeeper Maria Case (West Haven, Conn.) only to hit the crossbar and bounce down right in front of the goal. Sullivan charged into the scrum and poked the ball into the back of the net for her 10^th goal of the year and the eventual game-winner.

The Saints ended the match outshooting the Falcons, 14-9 but the visitors dominated the cornerkicks, 8-1, including several late in the game that were all thwarted away by the EC defense.

Smith ended the game with two saves to earn her fifth victory of the season while Case made eight saves in the losing effort.

Prior to the start of the match, the Emmanuel athletic department recognized and honors its five seniors in Kristin Baker (Portland, Maine), Ashley Cervin (Milford, Conn.), Garvey, Myette and Sullivan.

The Saints will return to action a week from today in the GNAC Quarterfinals when they play host to the #5 seed University of Saint Joseph (CT) while the Falcons earn the #2 seed and will play host to the #7 seed which is still up for grabs between Johnson & Wales University and Simmons College.