NEWTON, Mass. – Sophomore Ariana Gazaferi (Southington, Conn.) scored the only goal of the game on a penalty kick in the first half Wednesday afternoon as the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) edged Lasell University, 1-0, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's soccer contest at Taylor Field.

The Blue Jays were awarded a penalty kick following a Lasell hand-ball with just over five minutes to play in the first half, and Gazaferi stepped up and beat the Lasell keeper with a shot to the right side, breaking a scoreless tie with what would end up as the only goal of the game.

USJ improves to 7-1 overall and 2-1 in the GNAC, while Lasell drops to 2-6 overall and 2-1 in conference play.

Lasell finished with a 19-11 advantage in shots, including 10-5 in the first half and 9-6 after the break. Sophomore keeper Lindsey Montminy (Vernon, Conn.) posted her third shutout for the visitors, matching her season-high with eight saves.

The Lasers turned up the pressure on the Blue Jays' goal in the last 20 minutes of the second half. Freshman Bobbi O'Guin (Newton, Mass.) hit a shot off the cross bar and classmate Alex Lorenzo (Pawtucket, R.I.) followed moments later with a shot that was just wide left. Senior Olivia Austin (Burlington, Mass.) had a solid shot on a free kick from just outside the box that was blocked with eight minutes remaining, and sophomore Darian Morgan (Hoosick Falls, N.Y.) had a shot sail over the cross bar with two minutes to play.

Sophomore Angela Sanzari (North Haven, Conn.) finished with three saves in the Laser net but suffered the loss.

The Lasers are home again this Saturday, September 28, with 1 p.m. GNAC match-up against Anna Maria College. USJ returns home to host conference foe Colby-Sawyer College  Saturday at noon.

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