Lasell Climbs to 7-0 in the GNAC with 2-1 Victory over Johnson and Wales in Men’s Soccer

Newton, Mass. (10/8/12) – The Lasell College men's soccer team used a 2-1 victory against Johnson and Wales University to remain perfect in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference. Lasell improved to 11-1 on the season overall and 7-0 in the conference, while Johnson and Wales fell to 7-6-1 overall and 4-3 in the GNAC.

Mike Skelton (No. Conway, N.H.) scored a pair of first half goals for the Lasers, creating a margin that JWU was unable to overcome. Miguel Colmenares (Caracas, Venezuela) earned his ninth victory in net for Lasell, tallying three saves on the day. Nick Ligouri (Union Beach, N.J.) scored the only goal of the day for the Wildcats, who got a spectacular performance in net from Austin Scoggin (Mattituck, N.Y.) who made 12 saves on the afternoon.   

Lasell wasted no time jumping on the visiting Wildcats, as freshmen Conor Fitzgerald (Marshfield, Mass.) played a beautiful cross to Mike Skelton who deftly chipped the keeper to put Lasell on top 1-0, 25 seconds into the match. Skelton, the reigning GNAC player of the week, added a second goal when he curled a free kick around the wall on a set piece from just outside the 18-yard box in the 18^th minute. The hosts controlled possession and the flow of the match through the opening 35 minutes, however the visiting Wildcats began to create some stretches of possession in the final 10 minutes of the first half and turn the tide.

The opening 20 minutes of the second half passed with neither team being able to gain an advantage, until a Johnson and Wales corner kick in the 67^th minute. Freshmen Nick Ligouri struck a dangerous bending ball from the corner in front of his own bench, that continued curling off Colmenares outstretched fingers and into the back of the net to draw his side with a goal. Each team created some quality opportunities over the final 25 minutes of the match, but neither squad was able to find the back of the net again, leaving the final margin of 2-1 in favor of Lasell.

Johnson and Wales will be back in action on Wednesday October 10^th when they travel to the University of New England for a 4:00 p.m. fixture. Lasell will travel to Bridgewater State for a Wednesday October 10^th match under the lights at 7 p.m.

The Lasers will play their final home match of the regular season on Saturday October 13^th at 2:30 p.m. when they host Albertus Magnus College at Taylor Field and the Lasell senior class will be honored prior to kick-off.