Newton, Mass-- St. Joseph's College of Maine broke Lasell's conference unbeaten streak today with a 3-1 women's soccer victory this afternoon, on Taylor Field. The Monks remain at the top of the GNAC standings at 7-0-1 in the league (7-3-1 overall) while the Lasers suffer their first loss and drop to 4-1-2 in the conference and 5-3-2 overall.
Jennifer Keaney (Scituate, Mass.) scored the first of two goals just nine minutes into the contest receiving a leading ball from Jessica Needham (E. Bridgewater, Mass.). Keany dribbled past the Lasell defender taking an open shot from right inside the eighteen.
Keaney then attacked again at 21:28, upping the visitors lead to 2-0. Anna Willis (Gorham, ME) set up the play, forcing a 50/50 ball with Lasell's goalkeeper Elizabeth Stickley (Mashpee, Mass.). Willis won the challenge, dropping a short pass just left of Stickley to Keaney, who struck from within the goal box.
Lasell closed the gap with a rocket from Olivia Tsakiris (Killingly, Conn.) from over twenty yards out in the 32nd minute. Alaina Mitrano (Medford, Mass.) delivered the assist off a corner kick to Tsakiris who sailed the ball high out of reach of Katye Mayo (Fairfield, ME) in the Monks net.
St. Joseph's was awarded late chance to push further ahead with a free kick from just outside the penalty box with less than five minutes remaining in the stanza. Elizabeth Theberge (Danvers, Mass.) took the direct shot, however, Stickley punched the ball out of play to protect the net. The Lasers remained in a 2-1 deficit through the halftime.
St. Joseph's final mark came, at 64:24, when Katherine Chambers (Hampden, ME) controlled a loose ball in front of Lasell's goal and shot high to the upper left corner of the net, making the score 3-1. The Lasers played hard throughout the final minutes, with 16 total shot opportunities in the game, but did not connect again.
Stickley and Mayo each controlled and refuted six shots in their respective nets.
The Lasers are back in action on Saturday, October 17th during Family, Friends, and Alumni weekend, at Lasell College. The Lasers will face off against GNAC foes Norwich College at noon, on Taylor Field.
Lasell will also be celebrating their senior day on the 17th, honoring their two seniors, Mitrano and Alyssa Ferreri (Southbury, Conn.).