PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Second-seeded Johnson & Wales University (12-7-1) nipped #7 Saint Joseph's College (9-10-0), 3-2 in overtime, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Women's Soccer Tournament Quarterfinal on Saturday afternoon.
THE LEAD
The Wildcats grabbed a 1-0 lead on a Kyra Selner goal in the 39th minute and looked to cruise to victory after Taylor Hopkins scored on a Selner assist at the 63:03 mark, but the Monks rallied with a pair of goals in the final 10 minutes of regulation to force extra play. Senior Hannah LeBlanc (Andover, Mass.) potted the Monks' first marker and assisted on the tying tally, a header from about four yards out by sophomore Angela Valenti (Litchfield, N.H.) at the 85-minute mark.
The Monks' late push ultimately fell short however, as Selner netted her second of the match 6:03 into overtime off an Elizabeth Marinaro pass, effectively advancing the Wildcats into the semifinal round and ending the 2015 season for Saint Joseph's.
THE KEEPERS
Sophomore Brooke Troup (East Bridgewater, Mass.) started the contest in goal for the Monks and made seven saves in 67:20 of play. Troup suffered an injury in the 68th minute and was lifted in favor of senior Michelle Cunha (Enfield, Conn.), who made four saves – including a pair of outstanding stops late in the match – in 28:43 of relief.
JWU keeper Alex Place registered three saves in the victory.
TEAM STATS
Johnson & Wales held considerable leads in both shots (25-10) and corner kicks (7-3) in the tournament tilt. The Wildcats were called for 16 fouls while the Monks were whistled for 10 infractions in the loss.
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING
With the result, Saint Joseph's falls to 2-5-4 in the history of the series with Johnson & Wales. The Monks are 2-8 in GNAC Tournament play and have not won in the postseason since the Royal Blue edged Norwich University, 3-2, in a quarterfinal on November 1st, 2009.
END OF THE LINE
The setback brings an abrupt ending to the collegiate careers of the Monks' seniors: LeBlanc, Cunha, Stacy Anuszewski (Clarksboro, N.J.), Megen Pollini (Wolfeboro, N.H.), Bria Prophete (Saugus, Mass.) and Whitney White (Salem, N.H.), a group that helped the Monks post a 40-28-7 (.588) overall record with a 24-16-5 (.600) mark in GNAC play over the past four seasons.
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Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 474-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.