BOSTON, Mass. – The Emmanuel College women's soccer team dropped a 3-1 decision against Saint Joseph's College (ME) Saturday afternoon in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action at Clemente Field. The Monks improve to 11-2 overall and 6-1 in GNAC action while the loss drops the Saints to 6-7-2 and 4-2-1 in the GNAC.
After over 30 minutes of scoreless action to open the match, Saint Joseph's struck first at the 31:47 marker to take a 1-0 lead in the contest. Following a deflection, the Monks were awarded a cornerkick to be taken by sophomore defender Whitney White (Salem, N.H.). White lofted a ball into the Saints six-yard box and with a little help from the wind, the ball hung in the air just long enough for sophomore Megan Pollini (Wolfeboro, N.H.) to track it down and send it into the back of the net for her first score of the year to give Saint Joseph's the first lead of the game.
The Monks wasted little time to make it 2-0, scoring the eventual game-winner just a few minutes later when an Emmanuel defender played a ball back to sophomore keeper Jenna Marcello (Hopedale, Mass.). Marcello attempted to control the ball and following an errant touch found herself under intense defensive pressure from Saint Joseph's freshman Desiree Parent (Westborough, Mass.). Parent was able to win the challenge and tap home the second Monks score of the half to give the visitors the two-goal advantage with 10:04 left in the frame.
Emmanuel was able to get one back before the end of the stanza, making it 2-1 with 5:14 remaining when freshman midfielder Maggie Carey (Swampscott, Mass.) finished her second goal of the year off a feed from senior forward Lindsey Garvey (Warwick, R.I.). Garvey had possession of the ball deep in the Monks box before sending a ball back to the top of the 18 where Carey took one touch before finding the upper right corner of the net for the score.
The score remained at 2-1 for much of the second half before the Monks added an insurance goal with just over nine minutes to play to seal the victory. Sophomore forward Jodi Pollack (Andover, Mass.) found herself with the ball just outside the Saints box and lofted a shot towards the far post. The ball deflected off the post and into the net for the score to give the Monks the 3-1 cushion with 9:21 left on the clock.
The Saints were unable to get the equalizer throughout the match despite holding a 25-7 shots advantage.
Jaci Lorenzen (Windham, Maine) earned the victory in net for Saint Joseph's making seven saves. Marcello and sophomore goalkeeper Brenna Smith (Wantagh, N.Y.) each made one save a piece for Emmanuel.
EC returns to action on Monday when they hit the road for another GNAC contest against Anna Maria at 3:00 PM. The Monks play the same day when they host Rivier in GNAC action at 12:00 PM.
COURTESY OF EMMANUEL COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION
