Women's Soccer: Lasers' 2021 season recap

NEWTON, Mass. - The 2021 Lasell University women's soccer team continued its proud tradition under 15th-year Head Coach Vito LaFrancesca.

The Lasers (13-5, 11-2 GNAC) held 13 opponents scoreless, including six straight victories from Sept. 11 - Oct. 2 and a five-game winning streak from Oct. 20 - Nov. 3. The unit reached the GNAC championship game as the second seed, defeating Regis, 1-0, in the quarterfinals and Saint Joseph's (Maine), 2-0, during the semifinals.

Korynne Provenzano, who took home Lasell's 2022 Female Athlete of the Year award, earned All-New England second team laurels from the United Soccer Coaches, to go along with GNAC All-Conference first team honors. Alyssa DeOliveira grabbed the same two honors, in addition to being named the conference's Rookie of the Year and to All-Rookie team.

Bobbi O'Guin garnered All-GNAC first team recognition, while Erin Petrocelli and Serena Speight represented the Lasers on the second team. Priscilla Martinelli was named to the conference's All-Rookie team and Angela Sanzari collected All-Sportsmanship team laurels. DeOliveira and Martinelli combined for three GNAC Rookie of the Week awards, while DeOliveira also collected one Player of the Week nod.

DeOliveira led the GNAC in goals (18) and game-winning tallies (8), while ranking second in points (37). The eight game-winning goals are the second most in a single season in program history, while the goal and point totals were the 10th most in the record book. Martinelli led the unit in assists (6) and ranked second in goals (7) and points (20). The six assists were the fourth most in the conference.

Sanzari was a force in net, ranking in a tie for second in the GNAC in individual shutouts (7), third in save percentage (.830), tied for third in goals against (9), fourth in goals-against average (0.87) and tied for fourth in wins (8). The North Haven, Connecticut, native submitted her name in the record book in single-season individual shutouts (tied for second), goals-against average (fourth) and save percentage (tied for eighth).

The Lasers won eight straight GNAC titles from 2010-17 and received the automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament each year. The 2012 team defeated NESCAC-powerhouse Amherst, 3-1, during the first round on the national stage. In his 15 seasons leading the Lasers, LaFrancesca has compiled an overall record of 189-78-15 and a 132-25-10 mark in the GNAC. 

The 2021 team included Caitlyn Geary, Kyli Swann, Jasmine Williams, Lea Cabral, Charlie Arellano, Caroline St. Croix, Martinelli, Alex Lorenzo, Maria Henriquez, Narissa Libby, Provenzano, O'Guin, Alexys Suojanen, DeOliveira, Helen Bugaev, Petrocelli, Maddie Burke, Abbey Carlotto, Serena Speight, Julia Vaillancourt, Taylor Thompson, Michelina D'Agostino, Emily DeHart, Rebecca Beringer, Zowie Cheetham-Wilmot, Sarah Milne, Isabella Goral, Sanzari and Riley Silvia.

Director of Athletic Communications Trevor Wenners can be reached at twenners@lasell.edu.

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