WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - Junior keeper Sarah LaClair (Belchertown, Mass.) passed the all-time shutout record after leading the Lasell women's soccer team over the University of Saint Joseph, 2-0, on Saturday afternoon.
The junior netminder recorded the 16th clean slate of her career and 5th of the season to boost the Lasers' overall record to 6-2-1 and 4-0-1 in league play. LaClair passed the program's first GNAC champion keeper in the recognition, Elizabeth Stickley of 2012.
The loss drops USJ to 5-5 overall on the year and 3-2 in the GNAC.
Lasell was the first to test either sides netminder when sophomore Sabrina Morais (Arlington, MA/Arlington) fired on USJ's freshman keeper Morgan Ricci (Center Morales, NY/Center Morales) 3:50 into the match. Ricci denied the attempt and made the save to keep the visitors off the scoreboard.
The Blue Jays' best opportunity to score in the first half wouldn't come until five minutes remaining before the intermission. Junior Jessica Spezzano (Watertown, CT/Watertown) ripped a shot on frame that caromed off the crossbar to keep the score deadlocked at 0-0.
Lasell would break through in the second half in the 63rd minute. Morias was dangerous all match and finally found the back of the net on her third attempt at goal where she took a feed from classmate Carly Zdanek (Newton, NJ/Newton) and her chip shot sailed over the head of Ricci, under the cross bar and into the goal. The marker was the second of the season for Morias.
The Lasers would double their goal total and put the game away at the 79:21 mark. Lasell sent sophomore Erika Badger (Scituate, MA/Scituate) to the near corner for the Lasers fourth corner kick of the match and she sent a perfect ball into the box that found the foot of senior Erin Smith (Gorham, ME/Gorham) who finished and doubled the visitors' lead.
USJ put together one last rush to try and cut into the lead and make things interesting in the 87th minute. Junior Shelby Tallman (Colchester, CT/Bacon Academy) would get a shot off, but LaClair made the stop to preserve the shutout win.
LaClair turned away four shots for Lasell and improves to 6-2-1 between the pipes with the victory. Ricci made eight saves for the Blue Jays in the loss, as her record slips to 4-4-0.
The Lasers will have a quick turnaround as they host UMass Dartmouth for a non-conference affair on Monday afternoon. The USJ soccer team will be back in action next on Wednesday when they return to home and host GNAC opponent Johnson & Wales on the USJ Soccer Field.