KONICKI, SAINTS EARN 2-1 OT WIN OVER JWU IN GNAC OPENER

BOSTON, Mass. – Emmanuel College senior forward Hannah Konicki (Milford, Conn.) broke a 1-1 tie in the 97^th minute with her first goal of the year to give the Saints the 2-1 overtime victory over Johnson & Wales University in both squad's Great Northeast Athletic Conference opener Thursday evening at Clemente Field. The win lifts the Saints to 1-4-0 on the year and 1-0-0 in the GNAC, while the Wildcats remain in search of their first victory, sitting at 0-3-0 and 0-1-0 in conference play.

JWU had the better share of scoring opportunities in a half that was visibly affected by the weather. The Wildcats earned five corner kicks, while the Saints were unable to generate any chances from the corner flags.

The visitors put three shots on goal in the opening 45 minutes, but all three were turned away by sophomore keeper Tori LaRoche (Hudson, N.H.).  Wildcats goalkeeper senior Alex Place (East Greenwich, R.I.) did the same with Emmanuel's two shots on goal in the half.

The Saints opened the second half with their best offensive chance of the game in the 51^st minute when LaRoche cleared the ball towards midfield to junior Maggie Carey (Swampscott, Mass.). The junior captain skipped a header through the JWU back line and found the foot of her sister Molly, who was streaking towards goal. The senior from Swampscott took two touches and put a shot towards goal, but it tailed off to the left and out of play.

Johnson & Wales finally broke through at 71:51 when freshman Deja Hursey's (Columbia, Md.) shot beat LaRoche into the upper third of the goal. Hursey took a through ball from sophomore Nadine Simpson (Bellmore, N.Y.) that caught Emmanuel's back line flatfooted and put a no-doubter into the net for her second goal of the year.

The Wildcats' lead was short lived, as the Saints earned a corner immediately after resuming play following the goal. A corner kick failed to produce a direct opportunity, but a deflected ball found the foot of junior back Alison MacDonald (Peabody, Mass.) nearly 25 yards from the goal. MacDonald's shot found space through two defenders and broke through Place's outstretched hands tying the game at 1-1. The unassisted goal was the first of the year for MacDonald. 

Emmanuel had a chance to break the tie with a corner kick in the 77^th minute, but a foul was called in the box as the ball was played on goal.

Neither team was able to find a go-ahead goal in the final 13 minutes, so the game headed to overtime as the rain subsided.

JWU applied the first real pressure of extra time, putting two balls towards the goal, but LaRoche was able to cut off both opportunities to keep the game alive.

Konicki sent Saints fans home happy as she snuck past a defender in the corner, cut into the box, and drove a curling shot into the goal. Konicki's first goal of the season ended the game at 96:21, giving the Saints their first victory of 2015.

LaRoche finished with four saves, earning the first win of her sophomore campaign. Place took her second loss of the season, despite making seven saves.

Emmanuel travels to Fitchburg State University on September 15 to take on the Falcons at 7:00 p.m.  JWU's next shot at a win comes on Saturday afternoon as the Wildcats take on Utica in a 1:00 contest at Hartwick College.