SAINTS STREAK SNAPPED BY JWU IN 2-0 LOSS
BOSTON, Mass. - Johnson & Wales University used a goal by each of its top two scorers to power past Emmanuel College, 2-0, Wednesday evening in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action at Roberto Clemente Field. With the win the Wildcats earn the No. 2 seed in the GNAC tournament while the Saints settle for the No. 3 seed.
THE BASICS
Score: Emmanuel College, 0; Johnson & Wales University, 2
Records: Emmanuel College Saints (11-7-1, 8-2-1 GNAC); Johnson & Wales University Wildcats (15-3, 10-1 GNAC)
Location: Boston, Mass. – Roberto Clemente Field
Date: Wednesday, October 25, 2017
THE LEAD: Johnson & Wales University used a goal by each of its top two scorers to power past Emmanuel College, 2-0, Wednesday evening in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action at Roberto Clemente Field. With the win the Wildcats earn the No. 2 seed in the GNAC tournament while the Saints settle for the No. 3 seed.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Following 30 minutes of scoreless action, JWU freshman midfielder Olivia Cairrao (Bristol, R.I.) scored her 15th goal of the season to put the visitors on top for good. The rookie received a pass from sophomore Molly McCormack (Livingston, N.J.) with her back to goal and was able to turn and fire off a left footed strike at the 30:47 marker to put Johnson & Wales on top, 1-0.
- The Wildcats owned a 4-2 advantage in shots in the opening stanza and preserved the 1-0 lead heading into the break.
- Down by a goal, the Saints began to press for the equalizer and nearly got it in the 51st minute of play when junior forward Kayla Generis (Wethersfield, Conn.) broke past the Wildcats defense only to fire a near-side shot wide of goal.
- Johnson & Wales added an insurance goal during the 63rd minute of play by junior forward Deja Hursey (Columbia, Md.). Hursey took advantage of a failed clear that deflected back towards the Saints goal. EC sophomore keeper Alexis Gawron (South Hadley, Mass.) went into a dive for the ball but a bad hop on the wet turf allowed the ball to elude her as Hursey was there to put home her team and conference-leading 22nd goal of the year.
- Emmanuel continued to play hard down the stretch to try and get back in the game, outshooting the Wildcats 7-5 in the second stanza but JWU was able to keep the hosts of the board to preserve the 2-0 shutout.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- The Saints and Wildcats each finished with nine shots a piece.
- The nine total shots for JWU was just the third time all season that the Wildcats have been held to under a double-figure shot total, with the other two coming in losses to Connecticut College (4 shots) and Brandeis University (9 shots).
- JWU sophomore goalkeeper Colleen Lynch (New Milford, Conn.) made two saves to improve to 15-2 on the year while registering her fifth shutout.
- Gawron falls to 7-5 on the year, suffering her first loss since Oct. 4, breaking up a streak of six consecutive victories.
- The Wildcats are now 12-10-4 all-time against Emmanuel.
UP NEXT
- The Saints return to action on Saturday, October 28 when they host No. 6 Simmons College in the opening round of the 2017 Great Northeast Athletic Conference tournament at 1:00 PM.
- Johnson & Wales also hosts a GNAC Quarterfinal game the same day, welcoming No. 7 Albertus Magnus College to Providence, R.I.