Nov. 1, 2009

Box Score

BOSTON, Mass. - The Emmanuel College Women's Soccer Team cruised to a 4-0 shut-out win over Albertus Magnus College in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament action played at Clemente Field on Sunday afternoon. The 2nd-seeded Saints out-shot the 7th-seeded Falcons, 11-7, en route to the quarterfinal victory. Senior midfielder Kate McKenna (Holyoke, Mass.) paced the host Saints with 2 goals on the day. Emmanuel will now advance to host 6th-seeded Saint Joseph College in the GNAC semifinals on Wednesday night.

The Saints scored their first goal early in the contest, when Amber Di Nucci (Assonet, Mass.) found Melanie Hoffman (Topsham, Me.) open in front of the net. Hoffman drilled her shot past Albertus Magnus' junior keeper Christina Oddo (East Haven, Conn.), to put Emmanuel on the board, 1-0, in the 16th minute of play. Hoffman's goal held up to be the game-winner, as the Saints held the Falcons scoreless for the entire contest. Di Nucci's assist gives her a total of 17 helpers on the season, as she continues to lead all GNAC players in this category.

An Emmanuel insurance goal came just ten minutes later, when McKenna netted her first of a pair of goals on the day. McKenna headed in a beautiful corner kick set up by classmate Meghan Long (Smithfield, R.I) at 25:37, giving the Saints a 2-0 cushion. Emmanuel controlled the tempo for the majority of the first half and out-shot Albertus Magnus, 8-1, in the opening stanza. The Saints carried the 2-0 edge into the break.

Emmanuel's third goal of the afternoon came off a penalty kick. After being taken down by a Falcon defender in the box, McKenna put a penalty shot into the bottom left corner of the net, and Emmanuel led 3-0. McKenna, who was recently named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team, now has a total of 21 goals on the season.

A fourth and final goal by the Saints came in the 61st minute. Freshman forward Elizabeth Blasser (Pembroke, Mass.) came streaking down the right side on a breakaway and found a cutting Amber Di Nucci. Di Nucci quickly changed directions and drilled a shot past Oddo on the left side to put the Saints up 4-0.

Despite out-shooting the Saints, 6-3, in the second half, Albertus Magnus was no match for Emmanuel in the tournament action. Oddo made 5 saves for Albertus Magnus. Emmanuel's rookie keeper Jessica D'Ottavio (Pawling, N.Y.) recorded her 6th shut-out of the year, making 7 saves for the host Saints.

The Saints (13-5-1), who are now on a seven-game win streak, will advance to the GNAC semifinals on Wednesday, November 4th. Emmanuel will host Saint Joseph College (Conn.) in a 7pm start at Clemente Field. The 6th-seeded Blue Jays (11-5-3) upset 3rd-seeded Lasell College, 1-0, in one of four Sunday quarterfinal contests.