Skelton Sets Milestone in Men's Soccer 5-1 GNAC Quarterfinal Win

NEWTON, Mass. (11/3/13) – The Lasell College men's soccer team opened the Great Northeast Athletic Conference men's soccer tournament with a 5-1 defeat of Rivier University in the quarterfinals on Sunday afternoon at Taylor Field. Lasell College senior forward Mike Skelton (Conway, N.H.) scored his fiftieth career goal in the 74^th minute to become the program's all-time leading goal scorer. Lasell improved to 14-3-1 on the season with the victory while Rivier fell to 4-12-1 with the loss.

Five different players found their way onto the score sheet for Lasell, led by Skelton's 17^th goal of the season. Patrick McCarthy (Weymouth, Mass.) scored his first goal of the season, Lance Mayo (Cambridge, Mass.) netted his second of the year, Lawrence Fagan (Weymouth, Mass.) scored his second of the year, and goalkeeper Miguel Colmenares (Caracas, Venezuela) added his first career goal from the penalty spot for the Lasers.

Michael Thomas (York, Pa.) scored for the Raiders and Alex Armstrong (Wakefield, R.I.) added an assist on the afternoon.

The Raiders opened the game with a very defensive mind-set, dropping nine and ten men behind the ball and containing the Lasers GNAC leading offense by forcing them to score from distance while looking to spring counters when the opportunity arose. Gary Archambault (Auburn, N.H.) made five saves in the opening 30 minutes of play for Rivier as the Lasers created quality chances but they were unable to find a goal.

Lasell broke through the Raiders defense in the 37^th minute when a Lawrence Fagan corner curled into the box. After an initial header was unable to find the mark and Rivier's attempt to head the ball clear, Conor Fitzgerald (Marshfield, Mass.) nodded the ball back across the face of the goal and McCarthy came crashing in to head home the opening goal of the match. The Raiders were able to hold off the Lasers for the final eight minutes of the first half, and trailed 1-0 at intermission. Lasell held a 19-3 advantage in shots in the first 45 minutes, but thanks to eight saves from Rivier's Archambault the Lasers lead was only 1-0.

Rivier drew level in the 54^th minute when Michael Thomas headed home a ball that was flicked across by Alex Armstrong to tie the match at 1-1. The Lasers answered in the 62^nd minute when a blast from
Lance Mayo from the top left corner of the 18 yard box beat Archambault to put the hosts back in front 2-1.

Skelton scored his record-breaking goal on a header in the 74^th minute, heading the ball home after another Lasell attempt was deflected to him on the back post. Skelton's tally gave the Lasers a 3-1 advantage and forced Rivier to chase the game in hopes of recovering from their two-goal deficit.

Fagan's tally in the 76^th minute on an assist from Mayo put the game out of reach, and after a Lasell player was taken down in the in the 87^th minute, Colmenares calmly beat Archambault from the penalty spot for the final 5-1 margin.

Colmenares recorded a pair of saves for Lasell, while Archambault stopped 11 shots, several in acrobatic fashion, to keep River in the contest.

Lasell will advance to the GNAC semifinals on Wednesday November 6^th when they will host fourth-seeded Norwich University at 1:30 p.m. at Taylor Field.