STANDISH, Maine – #2 Saint Joseph's College (14-3, 10-2 GNAC) will host #3 Johnson & Wales University (14-6-1, 10-2 GNAC) in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Women's Soccer Tournament Semi- Final game at 4:00 PM on Wednesday, October 31st.
OVERVIEW:
Wednesday's winner advances to the GNAC championship on November 3rd, 2018, and will face the winner of the #1 Lasell College / #4 Emmanuel College in their semi- final game on October 31, 2018 hosted by Lasell College.
The winner of the GNAC Championship game, set to be played on Saturday, November 3rd, earns an automatic berth into the 2018 NCAA DIII Women's Soccer Championship, which begins on November 10th.
FACTS & FIGURES:
Saint Joseph's:
The Monks head into the tournament ranked second in the GNAC in assists (25) and goals against average (1.06), third in shutouts (4), and fourth in shots (248), goals (36), goals per game (2.59) and corner kicks (56).
Saint Joseph's is 7-2 at the SJC Athletics Complex this fall with the Monks suffering losses to the Sharks and Lasell College, both 3-2 setbacks.
Johnson & Wales University:
The Wildcats head into the tournament ranked first in the GNAC in shots (315), in corner kicks (111), second in goals per game (2.90) and second in goals scored (41) with a goals against average of 1.13.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Saint Joseph's:
Senior forward Haley DaGraca (Saco, Maine), a three-time First Team All-GNAC honoree, is having another fine season for the Monks. She ranks first in the conference in goals (18) and points (41) and fourth in game-winners (6)
Senior Colleen Sheehan (Medway, Mass.) has been a big contributor this year, despite missing three games due to injury she is tied for the team-lead in assists (6), and ranks second on the squad in goals (5) and points (16).
Sophomore McKenzie Murphy (West Baldwin, Maine) has played an important role for the Monks in the midfield this season. She ranks second in shots (44), and third in goals (5) and points (12).
Johnson & Wales University:
Sophomore midfielder Olivia Cairrao (Bristol, RI.), a 2017 Second- Team all-New England pick, GNAC Rookie of the Year, and First Team all GNAC pick, is having another great season for the Wildcats. She leads the Wildcats in points (33), and in game winners (4), and is second on the squad in shots (103).
Freshman forward Jordan Restivo (Utica, NY) has also had an impressive rookie season for the Wildcats, leading in shots (114), standing in second in points (27), and is third on the team in game winners (2).
Senior forward Deja Hursey (Columbia, MD) a 2017 Second- Team All-New- England pick, and First- Team All- GNAC pick is also a key contributor on the team, standing second on the team with game winners (3), and is fourth in points (14),
KEEPER COMPARISON:
Saint Joseph's: Freshman Adia Grogan (Kennebunk, Maine) is having a solid freshman season with a 1.04 goals against average and a .803 save percentage with 68 saves in 1,467 minutes in net. The October 15th GNAC Goalie and Rookie of the Week honoree is second in the conference in wins (12) and third in shutouts (5).
Johnson & Wales University: Colleen Lynch is also having an impressive season with a 1.11 goals against average and a .785 save percentage with 84 saves in 1,860 minutes between the pipes. Linch has been named GNAC's most recent Women's Goalkeeper of The Week.
ATTITUDE REFLECTS LEADERSHIP:
Saint Joseph's Head Coach Jenelle Harris, now in her sixth season at the helm, is 69-39-7 (.600) overall with a 44-19-5 (.647) record in conference play as the Monks' skipper. Last fall, the two-time GNAC Coach of the Year honoree led the Monks to the conference tournament semifinals, for the second-consecutive season, with a 4-0 quarterfinal win over University of Saint Joseph (CT).
Johnson and Wales University is coached by Head Coach Chris Flint, who is now in his fourth season. During his tenure at Johnson and Wales, Flint has compiled a 43-15-5 record. On September 30th, 2017 Flint recorded his 200th career victory when the Wildcats defeated Mount Ida.
THE LAST TIME WE MET:
On October 13th, the Monks tipped the Wildcats in overtime 1-0, with a goal by Senior Hayley DaGraca, breaking the scoreless tie in the sixth minute. Johnson and Wales held the lead in shots (19-8), shots on goal (8-5), and corner kicks (10-2).
With the previous win, Saint Joseph's is now 3-7-4 all time versus Johnson and Wales University, which ended a five game losing streak to the Wildcats.
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:
Saint Joseph's is 3-7-4 in the history of the series with Johnson and Wales. The last win against the Wildcats marks the first win for the Monks at Johnson and Wales University.
POSTSEASON HISTORY:
The Monks have advanced to the GNAC postseason in 11 of 12 seasons and have played in the semifinal round on four occasions, including last fall when the team fell to eventual conference champion Lasell College, 3-1, on October 31st.
The Wildcats will be making their 17th appearance in the GNAC Tournament in the last 22 seasons. The Wildcats won the GNAC Championship in 2000 and 2005.
The Saint Joseph's Monks and the Johnson and Wales Wildcats last met in post season play in 2015, in the GNAC tournament quarterfinal game, where the Wildcats topped the Monks 3-2 in overtime play.