NEWTON, MA- Junior midfielder Jordynn Frollo (Uxbridge, MA) recorded the game-winning goal for the Lasell College women's soccer team in the 80th minute of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC)Tournament Semi-Finals, defeating St. Joseph College of Connecticut, 1-0, Wednesday afternoon on Taylor Field.
The game-changer came after over 79 minutes of scoreless soccer during which time the teams evenly traded shots and possession of the ball. Senior midfielder Allyson Bushey (Westminster, MA) put the play in motion collecting the ball at midfield and dishing off to Frollo who bombed a high shot into the direct center of the net and out of reach of St. Joseph's goalkeeper Holly Mirabella (Seymour, CT).
Laser goalie Elizabeth Stickley (Mashpee, MA) secured her fourth consecutive shutout (fifth season), making nine saves in the crucial semi-final game which preserved Lasell's 11-game unbeaten streak at home. Stickley and Frollo were each named to the First Team GNAC All-Conference earlier in the day.
Though the teams matched shot-for-shot over the stretch of the contest with 17 apiece, the Blue Jays came up with 10 on-frame chances while the Lasers managed just six. St. Joseph produced the first close-call in the seventh minute when Krista Watts (Wolcott, CT) booted a shot which was cleared out by Laser defender Molly Clarke (Berlin, CT) after it passed by a charging Stickley.
In the 60th minute, St. Joseph looked to take the edge again with a deep lob shot by Tiana Saraceno (Plainville, CT) which nipped off the cross bar before Stickley scooped up the vital save. Shortly after, Lasell created a near-make when freshman forward Arianna DiOrio (Revere, MA) baited Mirabella with a tough shot along the end line, but the Blue Jay's junior goalie was up to the task and denied the chance.
St. Joseph finished the day with a 14-4-1 overall record. Mirabella concluded the match with five saves in a losing effort.
Lasell (13-3-3) will host the no. 4 seed Norwich University (13-7-0) in the tournament finals on Saturday, November 6th at 12:00 p.m. on Taylor Field for the 2010 GNAC Championship Title. The contest will mark the first time the Lasers have reached the finals off the GNAC playoffs since joining the league in 2007.