SAINTS SHUT OUT MUSTANGS IN FINAL GNAC GAME
Oct. 26, 2008
Newton, Mass. - The Emmanuel College Women's Soccer Team shut out host Mount Ida College, 2-0, in the final Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) game of the season on Sunday afternoon. This win helped the Saints clinch the 3rd seed in the upcoming GNAC Tournament. Emmanuel improved to 11-6 overall and 9-3 in the conference, while Mount Ida dropped its third consecutive game, making the Mustangs' record 3-10-2 overall and 1-8-1 in GNAC play.
Beginning the second half of Sunday's contest, Emmanuel unlocked a 0-0 tie on a Melanie Hoffman (Topsham, Maine) goal in the front of the box, off a feed from sophomore Amber DiNucci (Assonet, Mass.) giving the Saints the 1-0 advantage that eventually proved to be the game winner.
The Saints tacked on a second goal in the 60th minute when DiNucci juggled the ball over the Mount Ida defense and volleyed a shot past the dive of Mustang keeper Meghan Begins (Jericho, Vt.) into the left corner of the net. The Di Nucci goal, her 15th of the season, gave the visitors the outright 2-0 lead with no answer from the hosts for the remainder of the contest.
Mustang goalie Begins denied nine shots and was solid in net with a handful of very difficult saves that kept hope alive for her teammates. Emmanuel's senior keeper Laureyn Furtney (Barrington, N.H.) didn't see too much action on the day, but stopped all three Mount Ida shots on goal. Furtney picked up her 4th shutout of the season, while the Saints outshot Mount Ida 20-10 for the game.
The Mustangs wrap up their season on Thursday, when they host Rivier College at 3:30 p.m. The Saints also close out the regular season on Thursday night, when they travel to Fitchburg State to take on the Falcons in a 7pm start at Elliot Field.