Oct. 2, 2010

Box Score

BOSTON, Mass. - The Emmanuel College Women's Soccer Team survived a late game scare from Norwich University, defeating the Cadets 3-2, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) match up played at Roberto Clemente Field on Saturday afternoon. The nightcap of a men's and women's conference double-header featured the Saints owning a 2-0 lead for the first eighty-five minutes of action. The Cadets then sandwiched a pair of goals around an Emmanuel marker in the final five minutes of regulation and the host Saints held on for the 3-2 victory.

The game led off with strong offense from the Saints. Both teams had their share of runs early and the Cadets had a great scoring opportunity in the 9th minute. However, the Norwich scramble in front of the net was stifled by Emmanuel goalkeeper Beatrix Hassler (Jericho, Vt.). The Saints tallied their first goal early, when junior Logan Carr (Saratoga Springs, N. Y.) sent a corner into the box from the right side, where it was headed in by a waiting Brittany Ridge (Portland, Me.). Ridge's goal at 13:08 was the sophomore's 3rd of the season and Emmanuel led 1-0.

The Saints struck again just 80 seconds later, with the Emmanuel offense storming down the field. Freshman forward Darcey Sullivan (Dalton, Mass.) played a rebound off the crossbar, and sent it past the keeper's hands for her 4th goal of the season, and a 2-0 lead in the game.

Norwich locked down on defense for the rest of half, as their offense picked up, leading to 2 spectacular saves by Hassler. Norwich's Biana Bogda (Cranston, R.I.) gave the Cadets another opportunity with a direct kick thiry minutes into the frame, but the sophomore forward's shot sailed wide right. Emmanuel took a 2-0 lead into the break at halftime.

In the second half, the Saints pressured again early, but the Cadets' defense held strong. Norwich's senior goalie Alecia Wright (Piffard, N.Y.) made a fabulous stop in the 54th minute to prevent the Saints from going up by three.

With just five minutes to play, an incredible series of back and forth action and goal-scoring ensued. The first goal for the Cadets came in the 85th minute, when senior Karissa Doyon (Beecher Falls, N. Y.) buried a shot with an assist from sophomore Lisa Esparaza (Dover, N. H.) to cut the deficit to one goal at 2-1, Emmanuel.

Less than a minute later, Carr scored her 2nd goal of the season by clearing two Norwich defenders and drilling a strong shot outside the penalty area from the right side. The ball found the left side of the net just under the crossbar. Carr's marker at 86:27 put the Saints up, 3-1, and would hold up as the game-winner.

Striking right back, Esparaza scored on a breakaway for Norwich at 87:32 to bring the spread to 3-2. The Saints were able to hold on for the one-goal win.

The Saints finished the game with a 12-8 shot advantage and an 8-4 shots on goal margin. Hassler finished with 2 saves and picked up her 3rd win of the season in net for the Saints. Wright made 5 stops for the Cadets.

The win boosted Emmanuel's record to 4-8 on the season and 2-4 in the conference, while Norwich fell to 6-4 overall and 4-2 in GNAC play. The two teams have a long history, dating back to 1999, with Emmanuel having the edge in the all-time series, 8 games to 6.

Emmanuel's next game will be against neighborhood rival Simmons College on Wednesday (10/6) at 7:30pm at Roberto Clemente Field.