On the Hunt for a GNAC Championship

The Lasell College women's soccer team has had a 2010 campaign full of firsts and bests, leading up to this Saturday's Great Northeast Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Tournament Finals to decide the GNAC Championship Title. 

Under the direction of fourth year head coach Vito La Francesca and assistant coaches Jim Swift and Michelle Nuzzo, the Lasers finished 2nd in the conference for the first time with a program-best conference record of 8-2-2 and program-best overall record which currently stands at 13-3-3.  The Lasers were seeded second heading into the GNAC Tournament, which they hosted from quarter finals through the championship, also for the first time. 

Statistically, the squad leads the GNAC in shots, is second in goals, and is third in total points for amongst offensive ranks while also topping in the league for the lowest goals allowed percentage and is second in goals against average on the defensive side.

Nine of the Lasers 13 total wins have been shutouts this season, eight of which were against GNAC competitors. The Lasers defeated the GNAC Regular Season Champions, Suffolk University, in a 4-0 shutout while on the road at the Rams home field.  Lasell suffered their only two league losses to Emerson College (2-1) and St. Joseph's College of Maine (2-1) and were able to avenge their prior season loss to Emerson in the quarter finals of the tournament, knocking the Lions out of the post-season with a 1-0 victory. 

Lasell has also recorded an unbeaten 8-0-3 slate for all 11 home games this season. Currently, the team is on a seven game stretch without a loss, dating back to October 16th and has shutout the competition in their last three games, including both tournament contests.

Six Lasers were selected to the 2010 GNAC All-Conference teams, demonstrating the depth of the Lasell roster. Junior goalkeeper Elizabeth Stickley (Mashpee, MA) and junior midfielder Jordynn Frollo (Uxbridge, MA) notched first team honors, freshman forward Jamie Harris (Lynnfield, MA) and junior defender Molly Clarke (Berlin, CT) took ranks on the second team, and senior midfielder Allyson Bushey (Westminster, MA) and junior defender Meredith Hessler (Middletown, RI) rounded out the Lasers on the third team.

Stickley has a 8-3-1 record this season, with an impressive five shutouts, 62 saves, a .80 GAA, and a .873 save percentage, playing in 1,010 minutes.  Stickley is ranked amongst the top three in five GNAC statistical categories. Stickley's counterpart in net, sophomore Ashley Parrelli (Marshfield, MA), has seen over 750 minutes between the pipes this season, recording a 5-0-1 overall record, including two solo shutouts. She has made 38 saves, with a .98 GAA and .826 save percentage.

Frollo has 12 total points this season, scoring five goals, three of which were game-winners in conference play.  Frollo was the woman-of-the-hour in the Lasers semi-final playoff match against St. Joseph College of Connecticut when she triggered the game-deciding goal which launched Lasell's into the finals. Bushey also has been a notable offensive threat for the Lasers in the midfield with three goals and two assists, two game-winners, and the assist on Frollo's game-winner in the semi-finals.

Jessica Taylor (Standish, ME), Liz McGeoy (Doylestown, PA), and Mary Farley (Middleboro, MA) have also been formidable in the midfield.  Taylor is second on the team in total points with 16, scoring six goals and dishing out four assists. Farley chipped in four goals and one assist this season and McGeoy made two nods on net and passed out two helpers for six points. 

On the attack, Harris has been a stronghold for Lasell during her rookie season, leading the team in points with 39, having scored 19 goals and added one assist.  She is currently ranked 18th in the nation in goals, 25th in goals-per-game, and 44th in points.  Fellow freshman Arianna DiOrio (Revere, MA) also has made her mark with four goals and one assist and sophomore Reegan Brackett (Scarborough, ME) has accounted for two goals and three assist.  

Clarke and Hessler are two of the central reasons that the Lasers defense is positioned so highly in the conference and national statistics.  Clarke anchors the Lasers defense in the center back position as the last line of protection before the goalkeepers.  Hessler is a versatile player who has uncanny ability to win out in challenge balls and can produce offense while always transitioning to defense with ease.  The two all-conference players are joined by the outstanding duo of freshman Jill Greaney (Holyoke, MA) and senior Olivia Tsakiris (Killingly, CT) as predominant forces in the Lasers back field.

The Lasers will face Norwich University, the no. 4 seed, in the finals of the tournament. Lasell defeated Norwich, 3-1, at the Cadets home field on October 6th of this season.  Bushey and McGeoy paired up for the game-winner in the GNAC tussle while Taylor and Melissa Leonard (North Brookfield, MA) tallied the additional two goals for the victors.

En route to the conference championship match, Norwich shutout Albertus Magnus (5-0) in the quarter finals and Emmanuel (2-0) in the semi-finals.  Norwich senior forward Brittany Casey (Pointe-Claire, Quebec) was the sole Cadet to earn conference honors this season. The Cadets hold a 13-7-0 season record and finished the GNAC regular season with an 8-4-0 slate. 

The Lasers and the Cadets will clash at 12:00 p.m., Saturday, November 6th on Taylor Field.