Senior Day Successful in 1-0 Win for Women's Soccer

THE BASICS 

Score: 
Emmanuel 1 – Simmons 0

Records: 
Emmanuel College Saints (7-8-2, 6-6-0 GNAC)
Simmons University Sharks (2-12-1, 2-8-1 GNAC)

Location: Boston, Mass. – Clemente Field

Date: Saturday, October 23, 2021

THE LEAD – Saints senior Kennedy Davignon (Woodstock, Conn.) scored the game-deciding goal, heading in a cross off a corner kick as the Emmanuel Saints picked up a 1-0 win over Simmons in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon.

Prior to the start of Saturday's match, the Emmanuel Saints celebrated Class of 2022 members Hannah Sullivan (Vernon, Conn.), Grace Sanpietro (South Easton, Mass.), Bailey Maurer (Florence, Mass.), and Davignon.

In addition to the four seniors of the Saints women's soccer program, Shelby Olsen (Charlestown, R.I.), a member of the program that tragically passed away in June 2019 and was set to graduate with the Class of 2022, was also honored and remembered with her classmates.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Emmanuel's pressure finally resulted in a goal, coming in the 63^rd minute by Davignon. On a corner kick taken by first-year Katherine Dufour (Middletown, R.I.), Davignon rose above the challenges, heading a shot on goal from close range. Sharks sophomore goalie Marita Nothacker (Philadelphia, Pa.) got a hand on the header, but was unable to keep the attempt out of the goal, giving the Saints a 1-0 lead
• Simmons nearly equalized in the 83^rd minute with sophomore Sydney Neumuth (Marlborough, Mass.) having the Sharks best opportunity of the second half. From the top-right corner of the penalty area, Neumuth nearly found the far-side netting, but the shot just skipped past the post, preserving the Saints 1-0 edge.
• The Saints and Sharks each had great scoring opportunities in the opening 15 minutes. Simmons opportunity came in the ninth minute with junior Izabella Warren (Hillsboro, N.H.) firing a shot that grazed the crossbar. In the 13^th minute, Sullivan nearly put the Saints on the board, but Nothacker made a diving save to her right, keeping the game scoreless.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• The Saints held a shots advantage of 17-4, including an edge in shots on goal of 6-0.
• Emmanuel also finished with a 13-3 advantage in corner kicks.
• Sophomore Lexi Della Rocco (Chester, Conn.) improves to 6-7-2 (5-5 GNAC) with the win while Nothacker's loss drops her to 2-12 (2-8 GNAC).

UP NEXT

• The Saints finish off the regular season on Wednesday, welcoming Rivier University to Clemente Field for a 5:00 p.m. kickoff.
• The Sharks head south for a Monday match with the University of Saint Joseph's of Connecticut; kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m.