Lasers Blank NEWMAC Foe Wheaton College 2-0

Lasers Blank NEWMAC Foe Wheaton College 2-0
NEWTON, Mass. (10/13/16) -- The Lasell College women's soccer team scored once in each half and pitched its ninth shutout of the season in a 2-0 win over non-conference foe Wheaton College on Thursday afternoon at Taylor Field. The Lasers sported their pink jerseys on their home field in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The Lasers used their 11th consecutive victory to propel to 11-2-1 on the season as freshman Paytne Walker (Hillsborough, N.H.) and sophomore Erica Badger (Scituate, Mass.) both scored goals. The Lyons slip to 9-6 on the season with their fourth straight loss.

Badger also led the Lasell offense with a game-high eight shots, including five on goal.

Junior Sarah LaClair (Belchertown, Mass.) made four of her five saves in the first half in the Lasell net, while Wheaton freshman goalkeeper Alexa Barbagallo (Bridgewater, N.J.) stopped 12, including seven in the back half of the game.

Lasell posted an 11-7 shot advantage and took four corner kicks in the first half, but used much of the clock before getting on the board as Walker scored her first collegiate goal in the 33rd minute, giving the Lasers a 1-0 advantage. Sophomore Carly Zdanek (Newton, N.J.) sent a cross into the bottom of the box where Walker directed the ball past Barbagallo.

The Lasers were sitting on just their fifth one-goal decision of the season until Badger doubled the lead at the 74:08 mark, ripping a penalty shot into the bottom corner of the net for her fifth goal. The opportunity came after Zdanek was taken to the grass on a clean try on net.

Lasell, which has allowed just six goals on the season, built a 12-4 shot advantage in the second half despite scoring just once. The win was the Lasers' fourth straight shutout.

The Lasers host Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opponent Rivier in their next contest on Saturday, October 15. Kickoff on Lasell's Senior Day is set for 2:30 p.m. The Lyons also return to action that same day against Mount Holyoke at 1:00 p.m.