NEWTON, Mass. (11/10/14) – The Lasell College women's soccer team will take on No. 1 ranked in New England Williams College in the opening round match of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament. Game time is set for Saturday, November 15th at 11:00 AM. Admission is $3.00 for students with identification, $6.00 for adults, and $2.00 for children.
The Lasers are making their fifth straight NCAA appearance, after securing the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Championship with a 6-1 victory over Emmanuel College.
Lasell College (17-4-0) will play Williams College (16-1-1) this Saturday, November 15th, prior to the Ithaca College (14-3-1) and Springfield College (13-3-4) match.
Lasell had six All-GNAC selections for the 2014 season. Seniors Bridget Lynch (Dover, N.H.) and Kayla Lynch (Dover, N.H.) were named to the conference First Team, sophomores Megan Cullen (Amesbury, Mass.), Devon Day (Hartford, Vt.) and Mackenzie Kingman (E. Bridgewater, Mass.) were placed on the Second Team, and senior Molly Masiero (Richmond, Mass.) was named on the Third Team. Bridget Lynch additionally clinched Tournament Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year, after leading the conference with 32 goals and 12 assists. With 76 points on the year, she has collected 223 total career points. The Dover, N.H. native goes into the NCAA Tournament opener with 98 career goals.
The Lasers lead the GNAC in goals and assists, accumulating 47 and 28, respectively. The team is averaging four goals per game, while only conceding one goal per contest. Freshman keeper Sarah LaClair (Belchertown, Mass.) was named Rookie/Goalkeeper of the week after a stellar post-season performance, allowing one lone goal out of 15 shots faced on net.
Williams College finished on top of the NESCAC with an overall record of 16-1-1. The Ephs collected 48 goals on the season, while only conceding seven. Sophomores Audrey Thomas and Kristi Kirshe led the scoring for Williams with 13 goals apiece. Both players are tied for first for NESCAC offensive leaders.
The Ephs remain undefeated at home going into this weekend's match.
This year marks the fifth time the Lasers have drawn a NESCAC opponent in NCAA play. Saturday's event will be the second meeting between the Lasers and the Ephs. Lasell fell to Williams 3-0 in their first-ever NCAA appearance in 2010. Nevertheless, the Lasers proved themselves a worthy contestant, holding Williams 0-0 until the 68th minute.