WOMEN'S SOCCER TO TAKE ON SUFFOLK IN GNAC TOURNEY

Oct. 26, 2010

The Emmanuel College Women's Soccer Team received the No. 8 seed in the upcoming Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament. The Saints will face the top-seeded Rams of Suffolk University in a 5:30pm start on Sunday (10/31) at Dilboy Stadium in Somerville, Massachusetts.

After posting a 9-10 overall record and 6-6 mark in conference play during the regular season, the Saints will be looking to make a run at the program's 3rd GNAC title. Emmanuel has advanced to the GNAC finals for the past three consecutive seasons. The Saints won the conference championship in 2007 and lost in overtime in both the 2008 and 2009 title games.

Suffolk wrapped up the regular season at 12-2-1 overall and 10-2 in league play. The Rams have made an incredible turn-around since the program's inception just four years ago. Suffolk will be making its first GNAC Tournament appearance and is the top seed for the tournament. The Rams are led by freshman Taylor Miranda (Smithtown, N.Y.), who has scored a conference-best 21 goals this season. Fellow rookie Gabrielle Balestrier (Mohnton, Pa.) has netted 14 goals and dished out 13 assists this season for the Rams.

The Saints lost a 6-2 decision to Suffolk at Dilboy Stadium back on September 18th, earlier this season. An Emmanuel win on Sunday night will match the Saints up with the winner of the No. 4/No. 5 seed on Wednesday (11/3) at the home site of the higher seed. The winner of the GNAC Tournament receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.