LASERS WOMEN'S SOCCER EARNS BID TO ECAC TOURNAMENT

For the first time in the women's soccer program's history, the Lasers have made it to the ECAC DIII New England Women's Soccer Championships.   The Lasers picked up the eight seed in the tournament, after a 10-5-2 season, under the direction of second year head coach, Vito LaFrancesca. The Lasers will be matched up against no. 1 pick Keene State College, on Wednesday, November 12th.  The Owls will host the quarter-final match, at 6:00 p.m. at the Owls Athletic Complex.

The Lasers dropped only one game in their last 12 contests during the regular season, going on an 8 game winning streak at the end of September and into October, and were ranked as the 6th place team heading into the GNAC tournament.   Lasell was defeated by the hosting Emmanuel College Saints, 1-3, in the quarter finals of the GNAC tournament.

After finishing the regular-season with a 15-7 record, Keene State College was selected as the number one seed in the 2008 ECAC Division III New England Women's Soccer Championship. The Owls lost in the semi-finals of the Little East Conference tournament to Eastern Connecticut (0-2).  This is their ninth trip to the ECAC tournament.

The Owls will be headed by senior LEC All-Conference selection Michelle Boland and junior All-Conference selections Jaclyn Grant and Molly Brunelle. 

The Lasers will be lead by their four GNAC All-Conference team members, junior defender Alaina Mitrano (Medford, MA), freshman midfielder Meredith Hessler (Middletown, RI), freshman goalkeeper Elizabeth Stickley (Mashpee, MA), and freshman defender Jordynn Frollo (Uxbridge, MA). 

The first-round winners will advance to the semifinals on Saturday, November 15 hosted by the highest remaining seeds. The winner of Keene State/Lasell will face the winner of University of New England/Curry in one semifinal. The semifinal winners will meet Sunday, November 16 for the championship.

2008 ECAC Division III New England Women's Soccer Championship

First Round - Wednesday, November 12

No. 8 Lasell (10-5-2) at No. 1 Keene State (15-7), 6:00 p.m.
No. 7 Saint Joseph's (CT) (14-3-3) at No. 2 Brandeis (10-7-2), 4:00/5:00 p.m.
No. 6 Emmanuel (13-8) at No. 3 Fitchburg State (13-6), TBD
No. 4 University of New England (10-5) at No. 5 Curry (11-5-2), 6:30 p.m.

Semifinals - Saturday, November 15 at highest remaining seeds

No. 1 Keene State/No. 8 Lasell vs. No. 4 University of New England/No. 5 Curry
No. 2 Brandeis/No. 7 Saint Joseph's vs. No. 3 Fitchburg State/No. 6 Emmanuel

Championship - Sunday, November 16 at highest remaining seed

Two Semifinal Winners