WOMEN’S SOCCER SHUTS OUT SAINT JOSEPH, 1-0, ON SENIOR DAY

BOSTON, Mass. – Sophomore midfielder Maggie Carey (Swampscott, Mass.) scored the game-winner to lift Emmanuel College to a 1-0 win over the University of Saint Joseph on Saturday afternoon in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's soccer action played on Roberto Clemente Field.  The GNAC win boosted the host Saints to an even 8-8 on the season and 6-3 in conference play.  The visiting Blue Jays dropped to 8-6-1 overall and 5-3-1 in the GNAC.

The three seniors on the Emmanuel squad, Abaigeal Thivierge (Bennington, Vt.), Amanda Roberts (Hudson, N.H.) and Kelsie Dumas (Dalton, Mass.) were honored prior to the start of the contest.  Together, the trio has led the Saints to 41 wins, including 26 GNAC victories, during the their four years with the Emmanuel Women's Soccer program.

Saturday's game featured a scoreless first half, with the two teams fairly evenly matched.  The Saints took eight first-half shots to six by the Blue Jays and the game entered halftime knotted at zero.

However, the hosts would put together a series of close calls in the second half.  Eight minutes into the frame, junior Katelyn Fink (Sanford, Maine) attempted to head in a corner kick for the Saints, but her shot went just left.  Junior Molly Carey's (Swampscott, Mass.) point blank shot on Emmanuel's ensuing possession was denied by the USJ sweeper.  Seventeen minutes into the second stanza, Dumas sent a perfectly placed cross through to Hannah Konicki (Milford, Conn.), but the junior forward's shot bent just outside the left post.

It was in the 67th minute that the Saints found the back of the net for the game's lone goal.  Maggie Carey lifted her shot just over the outstretched arms of USJ keeper Melissa Dodge (Watertown, Conn.) and Emmanuel took a 1-0 lead.  Sophomore Molly Keefe (Manchester, N.H.) earned the assist on Carey's third goal of the season.

The Blue Jays got a good look with 16 minute remaining, but Sara Barnick's (Watertown, Conn.) shot sailed high right.

Emmanuel's Courtney Freadman (Richmond, Mass.) ripped a shot at Dodge with eight minutes to play, but the junior keeper made the stop.  Dumas then fired off a pair of shots in the final two minutes, but Dodge was there for both.

The Saints pulled out the 1-0 win.  Thiverge played the first half in net for the Saints, making two saves.  She was replaced in the second half by rookie keeper Victoria Laroche (Hudson, N.H.), who made one save and earned the victory.  Laroche improved to 6-7 on the season with the win and recorded her 2nd career shutout.

Dodge took the loss for the Blue Jays, falling to 6-5 on the year, but made 12 saves in her 90 minutes in net for USJ.

Emmanuel plays again this Tuesday night, when the Saints host Anna Maria College in a 7:00pm start.  The Blue Jays will host Rivier University in GNAC action on Wednesday afternoon in a 3:00pm start.