CURRIE NOTCHES 100TH CAREER WIN AS SAINTS TOP MONKS, 2-1
Emmanuel College Women's Soccer Coach Wayne Currie recorded his 100th career victory on Tuesday night, leading the Saints to a 2-1 win over Saint Joseph's College (Me.).
Alexis Mastronardi Emmanuel College Athletic Communications
BOSTON, Mass. - Emmanuel College Women's Soccer Coach Wayne Currie recorded his 100th career victory on Tuesday night, leading the Saints to a 2-1 win over Saint Joseph's College (Me.). The game featured the Emmanuel coming from behind to score two second-half goals on the rain soaked playing surface at Roberto Clemente Field. The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) win boosts the Saints to 8-3-1 overall and 4-3-1 in the league, while Saint Joseph's slips to 5-3-2 on the season and 4-2-2 in GNAC play.
Coach Currie entered the season with 92 career victories and with 8 wins midway through the 2011 campaign, he has eclipsed the 100-career victory plateau. Currie, who is in his 10th season with the Saints, is the first men's or women's soccer coach at Emmanuel to reach this milestone. Just one other women's soccer coach in the GNAC, Chris LeGates of Saint Joseph (Conn.), has over 100 career wins. Currie joins a historic group of just 152 all-time NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Coaches to win 100 intercollegiate games. Currie's long-time and loyal Assistant Coach Keith Rogers has been onboard for all 100 Emmanuel wins.
The Monks began Tuesday night's contest by striking first early in the game. Freshman forward Kim Jordan (Bangor, Me.) played a blocked shot past Emmanuel's junior keeper Jessica D'Ottavio (Pawling, N.Y.) for an early 1-0. Jordan's goal came in the 14th minute with rookie forward Danielle Daigle (Dayton, Me.) picking up an assist on the play.
The Saints and Monks nearly matched each other for shots in the first half with the Monks holding a slight 8-7 shooting advantage. Despite owning a 3-0 edge in first half corner kicks, the Saints trailed 1-0 heading into halftime.
The rain in Boston picked up in the second half, but the Saints wasted no time in finding the equalizer. Junior midfielder Lauren Foley (North Andover, Mass.) sent a long ball deep into the box, which was deflected, finding the foot of sophomore forward Darcey Sullivan (Dalton, Mass.). Sullivan knotted the contest in the 56th minute for her 3rd goal of the season.
Scoreless play ensued for the next 14 minutes. A scramble in the box caused Saint Joseph's sophomore keeper Jaci Lorenzen (Windham, Me.) to come off her line. A shot by Sullivan was deflected by Lorenzen and came loose in the box. Emmanuel forward Meghan Zerba (Cumberland, R.I.) broke free and netted the game winner in the 70th minute. This was Zerba's 2nd goal of the year.
Zerba had opportunity again on a breakaway just 8 minutes later, but her shot sailed high. Senior captainLogan Carr (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) also had a look on a free kick with under ten minutes to play. The one goal advantage would be all the Saints needed as they pulled out the 2-1 win.
Lorenzen finished the night with 7 saves for the Monks. D'Ottavio picked up her 8th win of the season, making 8 stops in goal for the Saints.
Emmanuel will take on GNAC and Colleges of the Fenway (COF) rival Simmons College on Friday night (10/7). The game will be played on Simmons' home field at the Winsor School at 7:00 PM. Saint Joseph's will return to action on Saturday (10/8), when they host Rivier College in a 2:30 PM start.