GNAC Rivalry Ends in Stalemate

Newton, Mass.-Lasell College and Emmanuel College crossed paths in an exciting GNAC women's soccer contest on Taylor Field this afternoon, resulting in a 3-3 double overtime tie.

Lasell came out on fire, taking 10 shots to Emmanuel's three during the first period.   The Lasers had some nice chances in the middle of the first half, using the field well to send balls through to striker Alaina Mitrano (Medford, Mass.). Mitrano was quick to sprint through the defenders and find herself in one-on-one situations with the Saints keeper Jessica D'Ottavio (Pawling, NY).   Unfortunately for Lasell, D'Ottavio stifled those early opportunities to keep the Lasers at bay. 

After 43 minutes of play, Molly Clarke (Berlin, Conn.) sent a long pass down to the right corner to Emily Machado (Marshfield, Mass.).   Machado beat D'Ottavio and shot on goal, but Taylor Whitehill (Salisbury, Mass.) picked up the team save by deflecting it away from the net. 

The scoreless first half made way for an intense second as all the goals were tallied in the second regulation stanza.

The stalemate was broken at 51:42 when Jordynn Frollo (Uxbridge, Mass.) a took a shot from beyond the eighteen which soared just barely over D'Ottavio's head and secured into the top right corner of the Saint's net. Clarke earned the assist on the shot.

Kate McKenna (Holyoke, Mass.) scored in the Saints favor just over five minutes later to even the score. McKenna drove through defenders and shot past a diving Elizabeth Stickley (Mashpee, Mass.) in the Lasers net.   

Amber Di Nucci (Assonet, Mass.) had a chance to give the Saints their first lead just moments later, but Stickley reached for a punching save to hold Emmanuel off.

With 18:34 on the clock, Liz McGeoy (Doylestown, PA) took a shot on the Saints which sailed just wide of the goal.  Lucky for the Lasers Mitrano was waiting in exactly the right spot to chip the ball in and give Lasell the lead once more.

Five minutes later, however, McKenna broke away once again for the Saints and booted the ball in the home team's net, tying the contest a second time.

With 7:48 remaining, the visitors then took control of the board for the first time all day by way of Elizabeth Blasser (Pembroke, Mass.) who tipped in a ball that was sent from Di Nucci's foot.

Their advantage was short-lived, however, as freshman Courtney Callanan (Taunton, Mass.) picked a fantastic moment to score her first goal of the season.  After a corner kick bounced around without control, Frollo gained possession and dished a pass to Callanan in position to score, forcing extra sessions.

The time ran out in first overtime with Lasell shooting four times and Emmanuel taking just one shot.  Frollo got a look to end the game two minutes into the second overtime frame but her shot was wide of the goal by the narrowest of margins. Lasell followed that with identical plays by both Brackett and Mitrano forcing D'Ottavio far out of net for two more opportunities but each were unsuccessful.  Lasell outshot Emmanuel 5-0 in the second overtime, but the time ran out before either team registered a final goal. 

D'Ottavio came up with an impressive 15 saves in the contest for the Saints, including five big saves in the 2^nd overtime. Stickley closed the day with 6 saves for the Lasers in 110 minutes.

Lasell returns to action on Wednesday, September 23^rd at 4:00 p.m. when they will take on Simmons College on Taylor Field.