BLUE JAYS NIP SAINTS, 2-1, ON SENIOR DAY
Oct. 23, 2010
BOSTON, Mass. - The Emmanuel Women's Soccer Team suffered a 2-1 setback to the visiting Blue Jays of Saint Joseph College on Saturday afternoon. The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) battle played on Roberto Clemente Field represented the last home game for the Emmanuel seniors. Kelsey Fitzpatrick (Milford, Mass.), Erin Hanlon (Rowley, Mass.), Kristina Marik (Airmont, N.Y.), Amber Di Nucci (New Bedford, Mass.) and Team Manager Ariana Lombardi (Westport, Mass.) were honored prior to the start of the game.
One of the Emmanuel seniors kicked off the scoring early in the game. Di Nucci netted a feed from freshman Shawn Crifo (Newburyport, Mass.) at 4:28 to put the Saints up, 1-0. The goal, Di Nucci's 7th of the season, ranks her second on Emmanuel's all-time scoring list with 51 career goals.
The Saints had another great scoring opportunity in the 11th minute, when Brittany Ridge (Portland, Me.) drilled a shot from outside the box, but Saint Joseph College keeper Holly Mirabella (Seymour, Conn.) made a tremendous diving stop.
A red card in the 30th minute forced the Blue Jays to play a player down for the remainder of the game. Emmanuel could not capitalize on this advantage in the final 15 minutes of the half and the Saints took a 1-0 edge into the break at halftime. Emmanuel controlled the majority of the offense and out-shot Saint Joseph, 7-0, in the opening frame.
The Blue Jays came out the half with renewed energy and the momentum quickly shifted to the visitors. Just three minutes into the second half, freshman forward Patricia Nolan (Portland, Conn.) fired a shot past Emmanuel's Jessica D'Ottavio (Pawling, N.Y.), tying the game at 1-all.
Scoreless soccer was played for the ensuing half hour before the Blue Jays stuck the game-winner in the 81st minute. Saint Joseph's freshman midfielder Nicole Mendelson (Southbury, Conn.) sent a direct kick over the outstretched hands of D'Ottavio for the game-winner at 80:18. Emmanuel had an opportunity to tie things up late in the game, but Darcey Sullivan's (Dalton, Mass.) header sailed just above the Blue Jay's goal.
Despite maintaining a 15-4 shot-advantage and playing with an advantage throughout the game, Emmanuel dropped the contest, 2-1. D'Ottavio finished with 2 saves for the Saints. Mirabella recorded the win for Saint Joseph, making 8 saves in her 90 minutes in net.
This was Emmanuel's last regular season contest. The Saints will wait to hear about their seeding in the upcoming GNAC Tournament. Saint Joseph has one final GNAC game remaining. The Blue Jays will face Pine Manor College this coming week, before heading into GNAC post-season action.