NEWTON, MA-- For the second consecutive season, the Lasell College women's soccer team will host the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship on Taylor Field. The first seeded Lasers secured their trip to the finals with a 4-0 shutout over fifth seed Saint Joseph College of Connecticut on Wednesday afternoon. The Lasers improve to 15-4-1 this season while the Blue Jays finish off the year with a 12-6-2 record.
Lasell wasted no time getting on the board with a goal by senior Jessica Taylor (Standish, ME) in the opening three minutes. Taylor was assisted by classmate Jordynn Frollo (Uxbridge, MA) who dished out two total helpers in the contest. The Lasers then tacked on an insurance goal, at 8:39, when Taylor set up sophomore forward Jamie Harris (Lynnfield, MA) for the 2-0 lead.
Current GNAC Rookie of the Week Bridget Lynch (Dover, NH) cushioned Lasell's advantage even further in the 22nd minute when she produced off a pass from Harris. The 3-0 margin, and a 14-1 advantage in shots, left Lasell in great shape heading into halftime.
Goalkeeper Elizabeth Stickley (Mashpee, MA) only had to make one save in each period as the Blue Jays attempted just three shots in the entire game, and only two on goal. Stickley recorded the win playing in 76 minutes between the pipes, while Leah Pappalardo (Whitman, MA) and Amy DelloRusso (Plymouth, MA) each saw time in net, however neither saw any on-target action.
Seven minutes into the second half, Harris struck again, this time assisted by Frollo to cap scoring at 4-0.
Saint Joseph's goalie Holly Mirabella (Seymour, CT) made five stops in a complete outing. Patricia Nolan (Portland, CT) and Stacey Rutledge (Meriden, CT) provided the only Blue Jays offense in the game.
The Lasers will face the seventh seed, Suffolk University, on Saturday, November 5th at 1:00 p.m. on Taylor Field. Suffolk produced upsets in both the quarterfinal round and the semi finals to make their way to the Championship contest. The Rams stunned no. 3 Albertus Magnus on Wednesday with a 1-0 triumph in the semis to take their place in the final match. The outcome of Saturday's contest will determine the GNAC Tournament Champion, who will in turn earn an automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament.