DRIVE FOR FIVE: Lasell Women's Soccer Claims Fifth Straight GNAC Title

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TOURNAMENT BRACKET

Courtesy of Lasell Athletics Communications

Lasers advance to NCAAs
for fifth straight season

NEWTON, Mass. - The top-seeded Lasell College women's soccer team captured its fifth consecutive Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship Saturday afternoon after defeating second-seeded Emmanuel College, 6-1. The Lasers continue their season with a record of 17-4 as they get set to enter the NCAA Tournament, while the Saints finish at 13-10 overall.

Lasell sophomore Megan Cullen (Amesbury, Mass.) scored four times on Saturday and senior teamate Bridget Lynch (Dover, N.H.) had a goal and three assists, while Emmanuel junior Katelyn Fink (Sanford, Maine) tallied one goal for the Saints.

Cullen wasted little time getting on the board when she finished a pass from Bridget Lynch just 43 seconds into the contest. Junior Sarah Jones (Duxbury, Mass.) prepared Bridget Lynch on the play, sending a long ball through the left side of the pitch. The duo connected again in the 18th minute when Cullen netted a header goal in the top right corner of the Saints' net. Cullen tallied again for the Lasers just before halftime when senior Kayla Lynch (Dover, N.H.) set her up on a one-on-one situation with the keeper, ending the half with a 3-0 lead.

The Lasers repeated their early-offensive approach two minutes into the second half when Kayla Lynch notched her first of the game, connecting on the end of a cross from Bridget Lynch. At 47:43, the Saints nearly got on the board when sophomore Maggie Carey (Swampscott, Mass.) blasted a shot from the 18-yard box that just skimped Lasell's crossbar.

Bridget Lynch continued the scoring for Lasell in the 49th minute when shot the ball in the lower right corner of the net, with Cullen on the assist.

The Saints answered in the 51st minute when Fink capitalized on a cross from freshman Amanda Roberts (Hudson, N.Y.), to cut their deficit to 5-1.

After a scoreless 28 minutes, Bridget Lynch looked to mark her second of the game, but was deprived of the opportunity from Saints senior goalkeeper Victoria Laroche (Hudson, N,H.).

The Lasers secured the victory with two minutes remaining in regulation when Cullen took advantage of a one-on-one situation with Laroche, and netted the ball to the lower right side of the net.

Lasell freshman keeper Sarah LaClair (Belchertown, Mass.) saved five of the six shots faced on net, while Laroche stopped six of 11. She finished the GNAC Tournament with just one goal allowed on 15 shots on goal. 

The Lasers will enter the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight year, and will await their draw on Monday afternoon.

With a final score of 6-1, the Lasers are going to the NCAA tournament for the 5th year in a row! #LaserPride #5Peat pic.twitter.com/uZU09q3lss

— Lasell Athletics (@LasellAthletics) November 8, 2014

– #theGNAC –