2013 WOMEN'S SOCCER SEASON IN REVIEW

BOSTON, Mass. –The Emmanuel College women's soccer program posted its seventh consecutive 10+ win season in 2013, registering an overall record of 10-8-3 which included a 7-2-2 mark in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC). The Saints earned the No. 4 seed and a first-round home game in the GNAC tournament before falling to the eventual champions in the Semifinals.

EC kicked off the season in the Farmingdale State Rams Classic in Farmingdale, N.Y. Unfortunately, they returned to Boston with an 0-2 record and a pair of one-goal defeats at the hands of Western Connecticut State University and Buffalo State.

In their home-opener against Fitchburg State University, Emmanuel netted three first half goals to en route to a 3-2 victory for their first win of the year. Following a tough defeat to regionally ranked MIT, the Saints battled it out with Fenway rivals Wentworth to a 2-2 draw before opening up GNAC conference play with a 2-0 victory over Suffolk University.

Following a pair of non-conference losses to Babson and Curry College, the squad closed out the month of September strong, posting a 2-0-1 record in the final week of action with wins over Emerson and Simmons College as well as a tie against Johnson & Wales University.

During the month of October, the Saints posted a 5-2-1 record, all results in GNAC action which included shutout victories over Norwich University, Anna Maria College, Mount Ida College as well as a 0-0 stalemate against the University of Saint Joseph (CT). The defensive unit recorded a 1.09 goals against average during the span which included a scoreless minutes streak of 365 minutes over five games.

The Saints locked in the No. 4 seed in the GNAC tournament with a huge 2-1 victory over Albertus Magnus College in the regular season finale. The Falcons came into the match-up with a chance to earn the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament with a win but Emmanuel spoiled their plans as senior forward Darcey Sullivan (Dalton, Mass.) scored both goals to propel EC into hosting a GNAC Quarterfinal home game for just the second consecutive season.

Emmanuel played host to University of Saint Joseph (CT) and made sure to avoid another scoreless affair with a first-half score by senior forward Lindsey Garvey (Warwick, R.I.). Second half goals by senior midfielder Donandrea Myette (Portsmouth, R.I.) and freshman midfielder Maggie Carey (Swampscott, Mass.) carried EC to an easy 3-0 win and a return to the GNAC Semifinals.

The Saints had the unlucky fortunate of running into the four-time defending GNAC champions as Lasell College jumped out to a 5-0 first half lead never to look back. Emmanuel never quit in the action and got back two second half scores to make things interesting for a bit but would eventually fall, 5-2.

The senior trio of Sullivan, Garvey and Myette ended the season as the top three leaders in points. In 20 contests, Sullivan tabbed 10 goals and seven assists for a team-high 27 points. Garvey was next in the scoring column with nine goals and three helpers for 21 points while Myette added 10 points on three goals and four assists.

Sophomore goalkeepers Brenna Smith (Wantagh, N.Y.) and Abaigeal Thivierge (Bennington, Vt.) split most of the action in net, combining to post a 1.92 goals against average. In almost 700 minutes of action, Thivierge set a new single-season record with a 1.16 goals against average while posting an .862 save percentage which ranks second-best in the annual all-time figures.  Also aiding to the defensive numbers was sophomore back Ari Cardillo (Richmond, Mass.) who was a mainstay in the Saints defensive unit.

Cardillo and Sullivan were both named to the GNAC All-Conference First Team while Garvey was tabbed a GNAC All-Conference Third Team selection.

Alongside Sullivan, Garvey and Myette, the Saints also bid farewell to fellow seniors Kristen Baker (Portland, Maine) and Ashley Cervin (Milford, Conn.). The 2013 class saw the program post 43 wins, make three appearances in the GNAC Semifinals as well as a 2012 appearance in the ECAC New England Tournament.