Sept. 27, 2008

Results

Boston, Mass. - The Emmanuel College Women's Soccer Team cruised to a 5-2 win over the visiting Blue Jays of Saint Joseph College (CT) in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play on Saturday afternoon. The Saints (5-3) stayed perfect in conference games at 3-0, while handing the Blue Jays (5-3-1) their first GNAC loss of the season (2-1-1 GNAC).

Emmanuel received goals from five different players, including one from a player in each of the four classes. The Saints kicked off the scoring in the ninth minute of play, when junior midfielder Kate McKenna (Holyoke, MA) lofted a free kick into the box and sophomore forward Amber Di Nucci (Assonet, MA) completed the put-back off the SJC goalie deflection, scoring her 7th goal of the season. Emmanuel scored again just five minutes later, when McKenna and Di Nucci put together a beautiful give-and-go down the left side, resulting in a McKenna goal and a 2-0 Saints' advantage.

The Blue Jays found the scoreboard at 23:01, when rookie midfielder Stacey Rutledge (Meriden, CT) put in a rebound from defender Melissa Maddaloni's (Chesire, CT) free kick. The Saints struck back in the 39th minute, when senior captain Tully Nicholas (Granby, CT) found the back of the net on a direct kick, scoring her first goal of the season. The Saints took a 3-1 advantage into the break, despite being out-shot by the Blue Jays, 11-6 in the first half of play.

Rookie forward Melanie Hoffman (Topsham, ME) scored her first collegiate goal in the second half, as Emmanuel took a 4-1 lead. McKenna assisted Hoffman, with her free kick deflecting off the Blue Jays' keeper's hands. Just three minutes later, Emmanuel's senior midfielder Kristen Goncalves (Ludlow, MA) nailed a deep shot with an assist from Hoffman to cap off the scoring for the Saints.

Saint Joseph turned up the pressure and continued to out-shoot the Saints, but could not capitalize until the 89th minute. Sophomore forward Eva Peart (Bloomfield, CT) was assisted by freshman Katrina Maki (Plymouth, MA) on a shot from the left side, which gave Saint Joseph its second goal of the game.

Despite being out-shot 21-12 (14-9 shots on goal), Emmanuel was able to come away with a 5-2 win. The Saints were successful on five of their nine shots on goal (55.6%) Senior keeper Laureyn Furtney (Barrington, NH) stopped 12 of the 14 Blue Jays' shots on goal, picking up her fifth win of the season. Saint Joseph's junior keeper Cait Witham (Prospect, CT) made 4 saves in the effort for the Blue Jays.

The Saints will play again at home on Tuesday night (9/29), when they take on the Lasers of Lasell College in a 7pm start. Saint Joseph will also play on Tuesday, when the Blue Jays travel to Chestnut Hill to take on Pine Manor College at 8pm.