WSOC: Lasers top Monks to advance to GNAC title game

Newton, Mass. – Two first half goals were the difference as the two seed Lasell University Lasers women's soccer team defeated the three seed Saint Joseph's College Monks, 2-0, Wednesday in the Great Northeast Athletic Confence (GNAC) semifinal at Taylor Field.

This marked the second matchup of the year between the Lasers and the Monks with Lasell winning the first one, 1-0, in double overtime on October 2nd in Standish, Maine.

Lasell came out of the gates firing holding much of the ball and playing the majority of the first ten minutes in the Monks defensive half of the field. The continued pressure on the back finally paid off for the Lasers in the 17th minute when junior Bobbi O'Guin (Newton, Mass.) corralled a loose ball in the box and passed it across the face of goal for freshman Alyssa DeOliveira (East Providence, R.I.) for the early lead.

Junior Alexys Suojanen (Windsor Locks, Conn.) stood over a free kick in the 35th minute following a foul on the Monks. From the left side and about 35 yards out she delivered a perfect strike sailing over senior Adia Grogan (Kennebunk, Maine) and into the right-side netting.

Both teams played at a stalemate in the second half with the Lasers playing much more defensive and the Monks unable to break through the Laser defense. The second half saw the Monks and Lasers even on shots, when in the first half the Lasers had an eleven-shot advantage outshooting the Monks 13-2.

Senior Angela Sanzari (North Haven, Conn.) was solid in net for the Lasers making three saves in route to the win. Grogan made eight saves to keep Saint Joseph's in the game until the end.

The Lasers will be back in action on Saturday, November 6, for the GNAC championship where they will travel to face top seeded Johnson & Wales. The time for the game has yet to be announced