CHESTNUT HILL, MA – Saint Joseph's (4-0, 2-0 GNAC) blanked Pine Manor College (0-4, 0-2), 4-0, in a GNAC Women's Soccer match on Wednesday afternoon. Jessica Needham '11 (East Bridgewater, MA) tallied a goal and two assists in the Monks' third shutout victory of the young season.
St. Joe's is off to a 4-0 start for just the second time in program history and has outscored opponents by a 17-1 margin in the four matches thus far. Netminder Jackie Lorenzen '14 (Windham, ME), who made five saves in the win over the Gators, is the first SJC rookie keeper to start their career with three shutouts in their first four contests.
Needham has scored at least one goal in each of the Monks' games this fall and has notched five goals, five assists and fifteen total points with two game-winning goals to kick off her senior season.
Ashley Beaulieu '14 (Durham, ME) started the game-scoring 10:17 into the match, finishing a Needham miss to post her second game-clincher of the season. Needham made it a 2-0 game less than five minutes later as she tapped in a rebound off her own shot at the 15:07 mark to double the SJC lead.
A goal from Cassie Diplock '14 (Augusta, ME) provided the visitors with a 3-0 cushion heading into intermission. Diplock scored from 20 yards out on a give-and-go play with fellow freshman Jessica Capozzi (Saugus, MA) at the 32:41 mark. Saint Joseph's dominated play in the opening period and held a daunting 19-2 advantage in shots, with 17 finding the target.
Nearly 37 minutes of play ensued before the Monks tacked on the game's final tally, which may be remembered as the "goal of the year." Mikayla Call '11 (Portland, ME/McAuley) took a give-and-go pass from Needham and delivered a booming kick that was still rising when it found the top left corner beyond the reach of an outstretched Natasha Kopystynsky (Johnstown, IL), the Gators keeper.
PMC starting netminder Colleen Tencza (South Meriden, CT) recorded 11 saves in the first half before being lifted in favor of Kopystynsky, who registered three stops for the Gators.
Overall, the Monks outshot the hosts 32-6 and held a 2-0 advantage in corner kicks.
Saint Joseph's will host GNAC rival Lasell College on Saturday at 11:30 AM, while Pine Manor hosts Wells College on Saturday at noon.
