JWU, Lasell Advance to Wednesday's GNAC Field Hockey Tournament Semifinals

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference saw a pair of one-goal games on Saturday afternoon as the 2016 GNAC Field Hockey Tournament got underway, with third-seeded Johnson & Wales University topping sixth-seeded Anna Maria College in first-round action and fourth-seeded Lasell College defeating fifth-seeded Mount Ida College, 2-1.

Lasell now readies itself for top-seeded Saint Joseph's College of Maine on Wednesday (time TBD) and second-seeded Simmons College will host Johnson & Wales Wednesday at 7:00 PM from Daly Field. 

#3 JWU 1, #6 ANNA MARIA 0
PROVIDENCE, RI - One goal was all the Johnson & Wales University field hockey team needed to move on in the GNAC playoffs. The Wildcats scored the only goal of the game in the 27th minute to beat Anna Maria 1-0 in the first round of the conference tournament on Saturday. 

Records:
Anna Maria: 7-12
Johnson & Wales: 7-11 

Statistical Leaders
Morgan Matthews: 1 Goal
Claire Nolan: 4 Saves, 0 GAA

Of Note:
With the victory, JWU moves on to Wednesday's semifinal. The third-seeded Wildcats go on the road to play number two Simmons at 7 pm.  

Both teams played strong defense as they combined for only 13 shots. JWU goalkeeper Claire Nolan (West Bridgewater, Mass.) stopped the four shots she faced to get the victory. All four shots came from the AMCATS' Kaitlyn Moran. 

The game's lone goal was scored at the 26:47 mark. Katarina Brunette (Cohoes, NY) fed a pass to Morgan Matthews (Bethel, Conn.) and she scored from five yards on the right side.  It's the first game-winning goal of Matthews' career.

Up Next:
The Wildcats are familiar with their semifinal opponent as they dropped a 4-0 decision to Simmons a week ago. The Sharks have knocked JWU out of the GNAC Tournament the last two seasons. 

Courtesy of JWU Athletics Communications.

#4 LASELL 2, #5 MOUNT IDA 1
NEWTON, Mass. - Freshman Samantha Taylor (Hanover, Mass.) scored with 90 seconds remaining in regulation as fourth-seeded Lasell College earned a 2-1 victory over fifth-seeded Mount Ida in the first round of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Field Hockey Tournament on Saturday at Grellier Field.

Taylor put home sophomore Cailin Flannery's (Medford, N.J.) cross from the far post for her 13th goal of the season, lifting the Lasers to their third consecutive win and a 12-6 record on the season. Mount Ida finishes its first winning season in just three years as a program at 10-8.

Junior Leah Sullivan (Mansfield, Mass.) scored the game-tying goal in the 48th minute. Flannery assisted on both Lasell goals to take the conference lead in that category with nine on the season and up her team-leading point total to 33.

The Lasers controlled play for the entire contest, holding a 16-6 shot advantage and a 20-2 mark on penalty corners. Lasell did not allow a single shot or penalty corner during the second half as junior Denise Landry (New Milford, Conn.) recorded four saves en route to improving to 11-6.

Despite Lasell's statistical dominance, the visitors took the first lead of the game in the 18th minute as freshman Taylor Lincoln (Rye, N.H.) scored her eighth goal of the season unassisted off a rebound.

The Lasers outshot Mount Ida by a 10-6 count in the opening period, while earning seven of nine penalty corner opportunities. Freshman Grace Ryan (Livermore Falls, Maine) all but two of her eight saves in the second half, keeping the Mustangs ahead by one after 35 minutes.

Lasell scored twice unanswered to take the victory in come-from-behind fashion, securing just their third win in eight one-goal decisions this season.

Flannery placed the initial shot that led to Lasell's tying goal at the 47:29 marker, but Sullivan was right on the spot at the front of the net to tip the ball home off the team's 13th penalty corner of the contest.

Taylor scored the deciding goal in dramatic fashion with exactly 1:30 remaining, shooting into a completely open side of the net off Flannery's perfect pass across the net front. Taylor led Lasell with seven shots, including four on goal.

Courtesy of Lasell Athletics Communications.