BOSTON, MA – Senior goalkeeper Jaci Lorenzen (Windham, Maine) shattered the program's single-game saves record with 28 stops and junior Danielle Daigle (Dayton, Maine) scored in the 108th minute to lift Saint Joseph's (13-2, 8-1 GNAC) past Simmons College (6-9, 3-6 GNAC), 1-0, in double-overtime on Saturday afternoon.

With a whopping 76 total shots – 45 for the Sharks and 31 by the Monks - in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) match, both keepers were extraordinary busy as Lorenzen's counterpart, Simmons goalie Briana Hayes (Manorville, N.Y.), produced 20 saves in a losing effort.

The thrilling game-winner was scored at the 107:20 mark when senior Lauren Chouinard (Gorham, Maine) launched a free kick from just over half field into the Sharks zone. Daigle was there for the tip past Hayes to lift the Monks to a 1-0 victory.

The opening stanza was filled with opportunities by both teams. Five minutes into the half, Kim Jordan (Bangor, Maine) pressured the Sharks defense with a one on one opportunity but first year Tegan Dougherty (Northfield, N.H.)) forced the ball out of play. Nine minutes in, the Monks were awarded a corner kick taken by Megen Pollini (Wolfeboro, N.H.) but Simmons sophomore Ali Berkman (Natick, Mass.) was able to clear the zone for the Sharks. Simmons had another quality chance when Keri Acheson (Peabody, Mass.) sent a through ball to Greer Gilbert (Falmouth, Mass.) but it was just long and rolled out of play.

After a foul on the Monks, Kristyn Heuslein (Manchester, N.H.) sent in a free kick on frame that forced Lorenzen to make the save off the crossbar. Four minutes later, senior Desh Perera (Reading, Mass.) beat Lorenzen to the ball in the zone but defenseman Whitney White (Salem, N.H.) was there to send the ball out of play. With just over five minutes to play, Desiree Parent (Westborough, Maine) collected a pass from Jodi Pollack (Andover, Mass.) for an open shot but Hayes made a diving save to keep the game scoreless into halftime.

The Sharks tested Lorenzen early in the second half, with two quick shots by Emily Andrulis (Litchfield, Conn.) and Heuslein but the Monks were able to clear the zone unscathed. Less then ten minutes into the half, Saint Joseph's took advantage of a Sharks foul as White sent a free kick into the Sharks zone that ricocheted off the crossbar. The Sharks cleared the zone and went on the offensive as Perera sent a cross from the left into the Monks zone but Simmons was unable to convert.

With 14 minutes to play in the second half, Berkman drilled a point blank shot at Lorenzen who just got a hand on the ball to deflect it wide of the net. Monks senior forward Ashley Beaulieu (Durham, Maine) had the final shot but Hayes was there for the save as the game went into overtime.

Simmons gained first possession in the third period as Acheson sent a long ball to Gilbert who tested Lorenzen with a shot from the left before Perera crashed the net for the rebound. The Monks cleared their defensive zone and Parent forced Hayes to come out for a save. Berkman added two shots for Simmons and Heuslein sent a free kick wide as both goalkeepers came up big as the stalemate continued into the second overtime.

With the victory, Saint Joseph's improves to 4-3-1 in the history of the series with Simmons College. The Sharks tipped the Monks by a 1-0 margin in Standish last fall.

Prior to this afternoon, the Monks' single-match saves record was held by Cheryl Northrup '05, who made 20 stops in a 6-0 loss to Endicott College on October 19th, 2002.

The overtime contest was just the second of the year for Saint Joseph's and first since the Royal Blue edged Husson University, 1-0, in the 2013 season-opener on August 31st.

Both teams return to the pitch versus GNAC opponents on Wednesday, when Saint Joseph's hosts Suffolk University at 3:30 PM and Simmons plays at Anna Maria College at 7:00 PM. 

MAJOR PORTIONS COURTESY OF SIMMONS COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION

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 430-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.