Lasers Advance to GNAC Semifinals after 5-1 Defeat of Monks

NEWTON, MA-- In the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's soccer quarter final match between Lasell College and St. Joseph's College of Maine, the Lasers retaliated an earlier season loss by trouncing the Monks, 5-1, in the tournament contest. The eighth seeded Monks were bounced from the playoffs, finishing the season with a 7-5-5 overall record while the reigning GNAC Champion, and first seed in the tournament, advances to the semifinals with a 14-4-1 record to date.

Lasell exploded right out of the gate with four first half goals, including three in a 25 minute span. The Lasers had retribution in mind after being handed their first conference loss of the season by the Monks, 1-0, just two weeks ago on Senior Day.  The win also marks the first against St. Joseph's by Lasell women's soccer since entering the GNAC in 2008.

The Lasers scored early and often beginning with a Jamie Harris (Lynnfield, MA) tally in the 8th minute.  After picking up a loose ball in the Monks back field, Harris raced down the right sideline, leaving the defense behind as she sliced the ball into the opposite low corner of the net for the go-ahead goal.

St. Joseph's nearly put in the tying goal at 14:21 when Elizabeth Calnan (Westport, MA) corralled an off-target attempt by her teammate in the Lasers' goal box and slid into an outstanding shot on a ball which was just a few short feet from the net.  Lasell defender Molly Clarke (Berlin, CT) made an incredible blocking team save to keep the Monks off the board.

Lasell's next two goals were scored in a two minute span of each other. At the 22 minute mark, Mary Farley (Middleboro, MA) upped the advantage on a put-back off her own shot.  Her original attempt was deflected away by Lorenzen only to be picked back up by Harris who flicked the pass to an open Farley for the goal.

Bridget Lynch (Dover, NH) then used her speed down the left field to beat her defenders before drilling a cross-net shot into the twine. Lynch's goal was scored at 24:03 to give Lasell a 3-0 edge.

Just before the end of the first half, Meredith Hessler (Middletown, RI) recorded the first of two goals after being presented with a pass from Lynch in the 37th minute. The Lasers held favor, 4-0, through halftime.

The hosts continued to play hard in the second half despite their vast lead.  Hessler tacked on her second goal at 71:09 taking a setup from teammate Jordynn Frollo (Uxbridge, MA).  The Lasers continued to outshoot the Monks, coming up with a 19-8 advantage throughout the contest.

After 79 minutes, Lasell's starting goalkeeper Elizabeth Stickley (Mashpee, MA) retired from the net.  Stickley made three saves and earned the win in the tournament matchup.

The Monks got their only mark of the afternoon in the 83rd minute when St. Joseph's was awarded a penalty kick after a foul was committed within Lasell's eighteen.  Shannon Fitzgerald (Amesbury, MA) planted the shot into the back of the net to prevent Lasell's shutout. 

The Lasers will move onto and host the semifinals on Tuesday, November 1st during which time they will entertain no. 5 Saint Joseph College of Connecticut at 2:30 p.m. on Taylor Field. Saint Joseph defeated Norwich today in a 0-0 double overtime tie which they won 3-2 in penalty kicks to move onto the semifinal contest.    The Lasers defeated the Blue Jays, 3-0, earlier this season.