Monks Turn Away Terriers, 3-2

Monks Turn Away Terriers, 3-2

WATERVILLE, ME – Saint Joseph's (11-4, 6-0 NAC) remained undefeated in North Atlantic Conference play with a 3-2 victory over Thomas College (5-10, 3-4 NAC) on Saturday afternoon. Courtney Rague '11 (Old Orchard Beach, ME) tallied a goal and an assist in the SJC triumph.

The Monks and Terriers played to a 1-1 deadlock during the opening 35 minutes, but St. Joe's netted two straight markers, both off penalty corners, in the second half en route to the important league victory.

Melanie Allen '13 (Jackson, NH) kicked off the game scoring with a tally off a Kayla Nowell '11 (Bridgton, ME) pass at the 17:56 mark. Thomas answered quickly, as Claire Wyman (Dexter, ME) scored for the hosts three minutes later to knot the game at one apiece. Neither team would score during the remainder of the first half.

The Monks would regain the lead just 1:36 into the second stanza, as Rague steered a shot past Thomas netminder Megan Denby '11 (Copiague, NY) on a penalty corner play. Nowell notched her second assist of the game on the goal, which was the 10th of the year for Rague.

Alyssa Dunn '11 (Standish, ME) scored the eventual game-winner off a Rague feed on a perfectly-executed penalty corner play at the 59:56 mark. Hillary Arenburg (Berlin, NH) scored for the Terriers seven minutes later to make it a 3-2 game, but the Monks were able to withstand the late offensive pressure applied by the hosts and headed home with a narrow victory.

St. Joe's held advantages in shots (21-16), shots on goal (13-7), and penalty corners (11-7) in the triumph. SJC keeper Meaghan Johnson '12 (Portland, ME/Cheverus) registered five saves, while Denby had 10 stops for the Terriers.

With the win, Saint Joseph's improves to 13-9 against Thomas in the history of the series. The Monks have now defeated the Terriers in five straight meetings.

The Monks will host Rivier College in the team's final regular-season home contest on Sunday at 12:00 PM. Saint Joseph's will honor the team's three seniors prior to the opening whistle.