SAINTS SURGE PAST UMASS BOSTON, 3-1
BOSTON, Mass. – The Emmanuel College women’s soccer team continued its strong play on Thursday evening, defeating the University of Massachusetts – Boston, 3-1, in non-conference action played under the lights at Clemente Field. The Saints, who have won four in a row and seven of eight, improve to 10-8 on the year while the loss drops the Beacons to 7-4-5 overall.
BOSTON, Mass. – The Emmanuel College women's soccer team continued its strong play on Thursday evening, defeating the University of Massachusetts – Boston, 3-1, in non-conference action played under the lights at Clemente Field. The Saints, who have won four in a row and seven of eight, improve to 10-8 on the year while the loss drops the Beacons to 7-4-5 overall.
UMass Boston got the scoring started during the 14th minute of play when senior forward Krista Ledin (East Bridgewater, Mass.) ripped a shot from 15 yards out on frame. The initial blast was saved by Emmanuel freshman keeper Victoria Laroche (Hudson, N.H.) before UMB senior forward Amanda Pugliese (Pembroke, Mass.) cleaned up the rebound for her third goal of the year.
Battling a strong headwind, the Saints were able to get the equalizer at the 36:41 marker as junior back Ari Cardillo (Richmond, Mass.) carried the ball from her defensive third into the Beacons neutral zone. Left alone in the middle third, the tri-captain delivered a through ball to the left side of the pitch to sophomore forward Courtney Freadman (Richmond, Mass.). Freadman took one touch at the top corner of the box before delivering a left-footed bullet to the opposite side netting of the goal for her fourth goal of the season to even the contest at 1-1.
Minutes later, the Saints took the lead for good as junior midfielder Jess Dasilva (North Attleboro, Mass.) was able to dribble through the UMass Boston midfield and deliver a ball to freshman forward Hailey Longbottom (Princeton, Mass.). Longbottom ripped a shot from 25 yards out that appeared to be heading over the UMB crossbar but the strong headwind killed the shot mid-flight and the ball eluded Beacons' senior goalkeeper Dani Perkins (Murrieta, Calif.) to make it a 2-1 game with 3:15 left to play in the opening stanza.
The Beacons had several chances early in the second frame to tie the contest but Cardillo and freshman back Emily Gilman (Windham, Mass.) continued to win the battle between UMB's forwards to protect the one-goal lead.
With just over 26 minutes to play in regulation, the Saints added an insurance goal to make it 3-1. Sophomore midfielder Maggie Carey (Swampscott, Mass.) intercepted a poor clear attempt from the Beacons and caught Perkins flatfooted by her near post. Carey was able to find the back of the net easily for her fourth goal of the year.
The Emmanuel defense made the two-goal lead hold up as the Saints handed the Beacons its first loss to a GNAC opponent since 2009 back when UMB fell to Saint Joseph's (CT), 1-0, on Sept. 10, 2009.
Laroche finished with five saves to earn the win and improves to 8-7 on the year while Perkins made seven saves, falling to 6-1-3 on the year. The loss was the senior's defeat in goal since Nov. 12, 2011 when she dropped a 1-0 decision to Worcester State in the ECAC New England Semifinals.
The Saints return to action on Saturday, heading to Saint Joseph's College (ME) for their final GNAC contest of the year at 2:30 PM and can lock in the No. 2 seed in the GNAC tournament with a win. UMass Boston is back the same day, hosting Plymouth State at 1:00 PM in Little East Conference action.