NEWTON, Mass. – Junior Caitlin Rotonnelli (Meredith, N.H.) scored the game-winning goal in the 76th minute Saturday afternoon, hitting the top right corner from the top of the box, lifting the Lasell College women's soccer team over the Regis College Pride, 2-1, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) match-up at Taylor Field.
The Lasers remain unbeaten in conference play this season (8-0) and improve to 8-4 overall, while Regis drops to 8-6-0 overall and 6-5-0 in the GNAC.
Prior to the game Lasell honored the five seniors leading the Lasers this season. Morgan Pinksten (Pelham, N.H.), Sabrina Morais (Arlington, Mass.), Emma Papile (Quincy, Mass.), Carly Zdanek (Newton, N.J.) and Erika Badger (Scituate, Mass.) have greatly contributed for the Lasers in their four years and have been a part of three straight GNAC Championships.
Morias nearly put the Lasers on the board in the 12th minute, heading the ball off the crossbar. Freshman Kaylee Contreras (Pawtucket, R.I.) would have two scoring chances 15 minutes into the first half, but was not able to connect.
The Lasers outshot the Pride 26-3, including 16-2 in the first half. Sophomore Narissa Libby (Gorham, Maine) ended the drought for Lasell with 8:43 remaining in the first, sailing the ball into the top left corner of the net from 40 feet out.
Julia Walsh (Waltham, Mass.) tied the game for the Pride late in the first half, scoring from the middle of the box with 14 seconds remaining.
Walsh broke past a Lasell defender in the 57th minute, but was unable to capitalize on the Pride's lone shot in the second half. Rotonnelli secured the win for Lasell with less than 20 minutes remaining.
Defensively Morias, Pinksten and sophomore Korynne Provenzano (Stratham, N.H.) kept the Pride outside of striking distance, setting up chances for the Lasers to take an advantage.
Freshman Angela Sanzari (North Haven, Conn.) had three saves for the Lasers, while freshman Oriana Attridge (Westwood, Mass.) had 16 saves in a losing effort for Regis.
The Lasers have a quick turnaround, jumping out of GNAC play to host non-conference foe Roger Williams University Monday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. Regis heads on the road to Rivier on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.
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