NEWTON, MASS. (9/4/13) – The Lasell College women's soccer team scored a pair of second half goals to claim a non-conference victory over the Coast Guard Academy in their 2013 home opener. Jill Greaney (Holyoke, Mass.) and Bridget Lynch (Dover, N.H.) each scored, helping Lasell improve to 3-0 on the season while Coast Guard fell to 1-2 overall.
The two sides used the first half as a feeling out process, with neither team able to create many dangerous opportunities. Lasell controlled possession in the early-going, but the Bears settled in over the final 30 minutes of the opening half and balanced the flow of the game. Lasell held a 5-1 edge in shots during the opening 45 minutes, but none were troubling to the Coast Guard keeper Devin Fellman (New Port Richey, Fla.) who made three saves in the half.
The game opened up considerably in the second half, as both teams found space and began to create some dangerous chances. Kayla Lynch (Dover, N.H.) found her sister Bridget in front of the net in the 50th minute, but Bridget's effort ended up just outside the post. A well-played ball by Jamie Osterberg (Monroe, Conn.) sprung Bridget Lynch into a one on one with Fellman, but her shot was turned aside with a brilliant kick save by Fellman to maintain the scoreless tie.
The Bears then mounted a great scoring chance of their own when a great strike by Liz Runci (Duxbury, Mass.) was saved by Leah Pappalardo (Whitman, Mass.). The rebound fell to Lindsay Duplessis (Rye, N.H.) who saw her effort stopped by a diving Pappalardo.
Lasell was able to spring a counter attack in the 62nd minute earning a corner kick. A well struck ball by Devon Day (Hartford, Vt.) found the right foot of senior Jill Greaney who volleyed the ball into the net to give Lasell a 1-0 lead in the 64th minute.
Coast Guard continued to press forward, and the Lasers again found a chance on a counter attack when Bridget Lynch out-battled a Bears defender to a long ball played out of the back, and took a touch past the closing Fellman to create an open net opportunity and give Lasell a 2-0 lead in the 83rd minute.
The Bears nearly pulled a goal back in the 88th minute when a cross cleared Pappalardo only to see the effort of Terry Netusil (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) finish just over the crossbar. Lasell held on over the final two minutes to preserve the 2-0 margin.
Leah Pappalardo made three saves to keep a clean sheet and collect her third win in goal for Lasell, while Devin Fellman was credited with the loss, making four saves on the afternoon.
Coast Guard will be back in action this weekend when they match-up with Mitchell College and UMass-Dartmouth at their joint tournament with Connecticut College. Up next, Lasell will host Brandeis on Saturday September 7th at 2:30 p.m.
