Women's Soccer Set for NECC Championship Action
The Matchup: No. 3 Elms College Blazers (9-5-4 overall) at No. 1 Lesley University Lynx (14-3-1 overall)
Date: Saturday, November 5
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Site: Edward Field (Cambridge, Mass.)
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Setting The Scene: After finishing the regular season 5-1-2 in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) play, Elms earned the third seed in the league's postseason tournament. Lesley finished the 2011 campaign with an unblemished 9-0 conference record and claimed the league's top seed for the third year in a row. Over the nine NECC contests, the Lynx outscored its opponents, 52-1.
Scouting The Lynx: Lesley earned the conference's only bye in the opening round of the 2011 NECC Championship tournament and faced fourth-seeded Becker College in the semifinals at Edward Field on Nov. 3. The Lynx used goals by Kate Ryder (Glastonbury, Conn.) and Jackee Sanchez (Santa Clara, Calif.) to post a 2-0 victory over the Hawks. Goalkeeper Emileigh Lloyd (Middletown, Pa.) made four saves to keep Becker of the scoreboard and help punch Lesley's ticket to a fourth-consecutive tournament finals appearance.
Scouting The Blazers: Following a 2011 regular season that saw Elms win five of its final six games and secure the team's second-straight third seed in the conference tournament, the Blazers won a first round matchup with No. 6 Regis College, 3-0 at Leary Field on Nov. 1. Sophomore midfielder Gianna Gorneault (Springfield, Mass.), freshman forward Sevonnah LaRochelle (Chicopee, Mass.) and senior forward Jennifer Killion (Cambridge, Mass.) each scored in the winning effort, while Killion added a pair of assists to lift the Blazers to the semifinals for the third time in four years. Killion, who is four goals shy of setting the program's all time goals scored record, has amassed 41 for her career.
In its semifinals contest with No. 2 Mitchell College, LaRochelle and Gorneault put Elms ahead, 2-0 before a late first half rally by the Mariners knotted the game at 2-2 at intermission. Gorneault's second goal of the game gave the Blazers a 3-2 edge early in the second half until Mitchell forced a deadlock with three minutes remaining in regulation. After two scoreless frames of extra time, the sides entered a penalty shootout with the Blazers prevailing, 3-1 on the strength of scores by sophomores Chelsea Carroll (Meriden, Conn.), Christina Goodchild (East Longmeadow, Mass.) and LaRochelle.
Elms/Lesley Regular Season Matchup: In the regular season meeting between Elms and Lesley on Oct. 1, senior goalkeeper Kelly Callahan (Monson, Mass.) made 10 saves, but Lesley received two goals apiece from Jenna Fralick (Woburn, Mass.) and Sarah Apgar (Andover, N.J.) to seal a 5-0 victory at Edward Field. Ryder capped the scoring in the 69th minute, while Veronica Halen (San Diego, Calif.) added two assists in the winning effort for the Lynx who held the Blazers to just one shot in 90 minutes of action.
Lesley in the NECC Championship Finals: Lesley is making its fourth consecutive trip to the title game and is currently 1-1-1 in those contests. The Lynx won the 2009 championship, 3-1 over Mitchell before losing to the Mariners, 2-1 in 2010.
Elms in the NECC Championship Finals: Elms is entering its second postseason tournament finals game in the last four years. The Blazers earned the top seed in the inaugural NECC tournament in 2008 and secured a penalty kick shootout win over second-seeded Lesley to claim the leagues' first-ever championship. Elms is 1-0 in its lone championship appearance.
Setting The Scene: After finishing the regular season 5-1-2 in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) play, Elms earned the third seed in the league's postseason tournament. Lesley finished the 2011 campaign with an unblemished 9-0 conference record and claimed the league's top seed for the third year in a row. Over the nine NECC contests, the Lynx outscored its opponents, 52-1.
Scouting The Lynx: Lesley earned the conference's only bye in the opening round of the 2011 NECC Championship tournament and faced fourth-seeded Becker College in the semifinals at Edward Field on Nov. 3. The Lynx used goals by Kate Ryder (Glastonbury, Conn.) and Jackee Sanchez (Santa Clara, Calif.) to post a 2-0 victory over the Hawks. Goalkeeper Emileigh Lloyd (Middletown, Pa.) made four saves to keep Becker of the scoreboard and help punch Lesley's ticket to a fourth-consecutive tournament finals appearance.
Scouting The Blazers: Following a 2011 regular season that saw Elms win five of its final six games and secure the team's second-straight third seed in the conference tournament, the Blazers won a first round matchup with No. 6 Regis College, 3-0 at Leary Field on Nov. 1. Sophomore midfielder Gianna Gorneault (Springfield, Mass.), freshman forward Sevonnah LaRochelle (Chicopee, Mass.) and senior forward Jennifer Killion (Cambridge, Mass.) each scored in the winning effort, while Killion added a pair of assists to lift the Blazers to the semifinals for the third time in four years. Killion, who is four goals shy of setting the program's all time goals scored record, has amassed 41 for her career.
In its semifinals contest with No. 2 Mitchell College, LaRochelle and Gorneault put Elms ahead, 2-0 before a late first half rally by the Mariners knotted the game at 2-2 at intermission. Gorneault's second goal of the game gave the Blazers a 3-2 edge early in the second half until Mitchell forced a deadlock with three minutes remaining in regulation. After two scoreless frames of extra time, the sides entered a penalty shootout with the Blazers prevailing, 3-1 on the strength of scores by sophomores Chelsea Carroll (Meriden, Conn.), Christina Goodchild (East Longmeadow, Mass.) and LaRochelle.
Elms/Lesley Regular Season Matchup: In the regular season meeting between Elms and Lesley on Oct. 1, senior goalkeeper Kelly Callahan (Monson, Mass.) made 10 saves, but Lesley received two goals apiece from Jenna Fralick (Woburn, Mass.) and Sarah Apgar (Andover, N.J.) to seal a 5-0 victory at Edward Field. Ryder capped the scoring in the 69th minute, while Veronica Halen (San Diego, Calif.) added two assists in the winning effort for the Lynx who held the Blazers to just one shot in 90 minutes of action.
Elms in the NECC Championship Finals: Elms is entering its second postseason tournament finals game in the last four years. The Blazers earned the top seed in the inaugural NECC tournament in 2008 and secured a penalty kick shootout win over second-seeded Lesley to claim the leagues' first-ever championship. Elms is 1-0 in its lone championship appearance.
Lesley in the NECC Championship Finals: Lesley is making its fourth consecutive trip to the title game and is currently 1-1-1 in those contests. The Lynx won the 2009 championship, 3-1 over Mitchell before losing to the Mariners, 2-1 in 2010.
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