Men’s Soccer Locks Up First Place as Undefeated GNAC Regular Season Champs

BOSTON, MA – After a scoreless first period, Lasell College men's soccer came out blazing in the second half, scoring three marks to produce a 3-1 victory over Emerson College in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action on Saturday.  With the win, the Lasers finish as the 2010 GNAC regular season champions complete with an undefeated conference record of 7-0-2, and are top seed heading into the GNAC tournament. 

The first half belonged mostly to the Lions who managed nine shots to only three for Lasell.  Lasell's net minder Matthew Bruninghaus (Plymouth, MA), last week's GNAC Goal Keeper of the Week, was up to the task making four saves in the period.

It took just two minutes into the second half for the Lasers to score as Joshua Martinez (Milton, MA) blasted a shot from 22 yards out from the left field to the top right corner of the Lions net. Javon Scott (Kingston, Jamaica) then doubled the Lasers' lead with a header that hit the inside of the left post and bounded across the goal line.  Scotts goal would ultimately be the game-winner, scored at 55 minutes even.

In the 78th minute, Emerson got on the board with a breakaway down the center of the field by Cory Walls (Scitutate, MA).  Walls chased down a leading pass from Mike Giles (Wakefield, RI) and drove the ball low to make his mark. 

Emerson maintained the edge in shooting over the period, taking 10 shots to Lasell's five, but Martinez added an insurance goal in the 79th minute and Bruninghaus tallied an additional two saves to complete an unbeaten GNAC season. 

Along with first place honors in the conference, Lasell earns home field advantage throughout the GNAC playoffs for as long as the team continues to advance.   The GNAC tournament begins on Saturday, October 30th at noon on Taylor Field.  The Lasers have one final test prior to that on Monday, October 25th at 3:30 p.m. against Brandeis University for their final regular season game.