NEWTON, MA-- The Lasell College women's soccer team continues on an eight game winning streak after shutting down Simmons College, 4-0, on Taylor Field Saturday afternoon. The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) win boosts Lasell's league-leading record to 8-2 (7-0 GNAC) while Simmons slips to 3-7 (2-4 GNAC).
Lasell's goalkeeper Elizabeth Stickley (Mashpee, MA) was outstanding in her second complete shutout of the year, emerging with eight saves in the victory. Sophomore forward Sam Peck (Woodbury, CT) recorded five points in the game, scoring twice and adding an assist, to lead the Lasers while junior midfielder Reegan Brackett (Scarborough, ME) scored the game-winner with her first goal of the year.
Lasell got on the board at 16:02 when Brackett headed in a corner kick by senior Meredith Hessler (Middletown, RI). Brackett perfectly timed her approach as she cut towards the net and tucked the ball just inside the near side post for the lead.
Peck and Arianna DiOrio (Revere, MA) then teamed up for Lasell's next two goals to give the Lasers a 3-0 edge at the end of the first half. The pair struck first in the 31st minute when DiOrio shot a leading pass up the middle to a charging Peck while Simmons' goalie Ashley Wheeler (Nashua, NH) came out to crash the ball. Peck took one-touch around Wheeler and shot freely at the open net to score, at 30:52.
With less than two minutes to play in the period, the tandem collaborated again with a similar play. The second time around, DiOrio released a pass down the right sideline and Peck sliced the shot across to the left corner past a diving Wheeler, at 43:40.
Senior Jessica Taylor (Standish, ME) tallied the final mark of the game in the 51st minute. During a scramble in front of Simmons' net, Taylor slipped the ball over the goal line after Peck bumped a high pass to her directly in front of the net.
Simmons was not without chances at the goal, as freshman Keri Acheson (Peadbody, MA) attempted four shots and the Sharks' leading scorer junior Justine Beauchamp (Exeter, NH) took her chance with three. The Sharks, however, were handed their second loss in a row as they stifled at every opportunity. Wheeler finished the day with nine saves.
Lasell will hit the road this week for a Wednesday, October 5th game at Pine Manor College at 4:00 p.m. in GNAC play. Simmons also remains on the road for their next contest, when they head to Norwich University for a 3:30 p.m. game on the same date.
