PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Johnson & Wales women's soccer team defeated the Saint Joseph's College Monks 2-1 to clinch the 2019 Great Northeast Athletic Conference title on Saturday evening. This is the Wildcats' first conference championship since 2005.
Records:
JWU: 16-6, 11-1 GNAC
SJC: 14-4-3. 8-4 GNAC
Statistics:
Olivia Cairrao (JWU): 2 goals
Cat Nolan (JWU): 1 assist
Colleen Lynch (JWU): 3 saves
Madison Michaud (SJC): 1 goal
Of Note:
The Wildcats opened scoring in the first half with a strike from Olivia Cairrao. Cairrao carried the ball into the box and struck the top right corner for the first goal. Two minutes and 52 seconds later the Monks came back and scored to tie the game. Madison Michaud curved a shot from just outside the box passed the out stretched Wildcat's keeper Colleen Lynch. At the end of the first half JWU leading in shots 14-1, the lone shot for the Monks was the goal from Michaud.
SJC sophomore keeper Adia Grogan (Kennebunk, Maine) made 10 saves in the losing effort.
Olivia Cairrao beat two defenders and netted the game-winning goal to clinch the victory in the 71st minute. Olivia Cairrao was named the 2019 GNAC Tournament MVP.
The Wildcats outshot the Monks 29-4 and had the advantage on corners 11-2.
This evening's loss signals the end of college soccer for the program's six seniors: Olivia Alesio (Schenectady, N.Y.), Cori Balam (Lyndeborough, N.H.), Peggy Balboni (Millis, Mass.), Hannah Butler (Melrose, Mass.), Jade Jordan (Baldwin, Maine), and Hailey Tarr (Eliot, Maine). This senior class has helped Saint Joseph's post a 53-21-7 (.654) overall record, including a 32-9-5 (.696) mark in GNAC play, as well as the program's first GNAC Championship last fall.
All-Tournament Team:
Olivia Cairrao (MVP), JWU
Jordan Restivo, JWU
Colleen Lynch, JWU
Molly McCormack, JWU
Cat Nolan, JWU
Jade Jordan, SJC
McKenzie Murphy, SJC
Adia Grogan, SJC
Kaylin Deschenes, Emmanuel
Megan McMillen, Emmanual
Korynne Provenzano, Lasell
Ailaina Keely, Lasell
THANKS IN LARGE PART TO JWU SPORTS INFORMATION