2009 GNAC Men’s Soccer Championship Preview
By Melissa Maitland
GNAC Sports Information Specialist
The #1 seed Monks of St. Joseph’s (ME) will face off against
the #6 seed Emerson Lions for the 2009 Great Northeast Athletic
Conference Men’s Soccer Championship on Saturday, November 7
in Standish, ME. The winner of the GNAC Championship will be
awarded an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. In their only
meeting this season, St. Joseph’s (ME) defeated Emerson, 2-0,
on Oct. 4.
#1 Seed St. Joseph’s College (ME) Monks (13-7-1, GNAC
7-2): This is the second time in as many years that the
Monks have reached the championship game. St. Joseph’s (ME)
knocked off #8 seed Johnson & Wales, 3-0, in a quarterfinal
match on Oct. 31, and dethroned #4 seed Norwich, the 2008 GNAC
Champions, 2-1 on Nov. 3.
In their quarterfinal game against the Wildcats, Doug MacCallum
scored twice and Jack LaFreniere added a goal and an assist for the
Monks. MacCallum and LaFreniere scored goals just 17 seconds apart
early in the first half to put the game out of reach for the 8th
seeded Wildcats. Monks goaltender Will Pike recorded five saves and
picked up his GNAC leading 11th shutout of the year with the
quarterfinal win. The shutout also marked the 14th straight game in
which either St. Joseph’s (ME) or their opponent was held
without a goal.
In a rematch of last year’s conference finals, Jesse West
scored his second goal of the year to put the Monks on the board,
1-0, in the 41st minute of the semifinal game against Norwich.
LaFreniere tallied his third game-winning goal of the season in the
60th minute of play to put the Monks ahead for good, 2-0. The
freshman forward dribbled the ball nearly 50 yards and dogged three
Norwich defenders to score the eventual game-winner for St.
Joseph’s (ME). Zach Blodgett scored Norwich’s lone goal
of the afternoon in the 84th minute. Blodgett’s tally was the
first goal that the Monks have surrendered at home to a GNAC
opponent this year. St. Joseph’s (ME) has outscored their
opponents 12-1 at home this fall. The victory set a new
single-season record for wins (13). The previous record of 12 wins
was set in 2000 and was tied by the 2008 squad.
On offense the Monks will look to MacCallum, who leads the GNAC in
game-winners (7), ranks second in goals (12) and third in points
(27). MacCallum holds the St. Joseph’s (ME) program record
for career goals (38), points (87), game winners (13), shots (176),
shot percentage (.216) and games played (78).
Saint Joseph's (ME) entered the tournament as the top defensive
team in the conference, leading the GNAC in fewest goals allowed
(18). Monk’s goaltender Pike led the conference in
goals-against average (0.80), save percentage (.868) and shutouts
(11), and ranked second in the league in saves (105). Pike, who is
in his second year with the Monks after transferring from DI Mount
St. Mary's, already holds the career record for shutouts (19) and
is on pace to shatter the records for goals-against average (0.85)
and save percentage (.867) at St. Joseph’s (ME).
#6 Seed Emerson College Lions (12-7, GNAC 6-4): In their
route to the championship game, #6 seed Emerson upset the #3 seed
Suffolk Rams, 1-0, in the quarterfinals on Oct. 31, and defeated
the #2 seed Lasell Lasers in the semifinals, 2-1, Nov. 3. The Lions
come into the championship game riding a five-game unbeaten-streak,
the longest in the GNAC.
In their quarterfinal match, Emerson’s Cory Walls scored the
game's lone goal on what Suffolk believed to be a controversial
call. After a throw-in by the Lions' Casey Shane the ball appeared
to have deflected off a Rams' player that would have voided the
goal, but the referee ruled it was headed in by Walls without
interference. The Rams became frustrated and were forced to play
the final 23 minutes of the game short-handed after their leading
scorer, Danny Lloyd, was issued a red-card for a verbal altercation
with the referee. Tensions continued to mount, and six yellow cards
were issued between both teams in the game’s final 15
minutes, forcing the Rams to play 11-on-9 for the final 30 seconds
of regulation. Noah Price made seven saves in net for Emerson and
picked up his fifth win and second shutout of the year.
In the semifinals, Chris Nenshati put the Lions on top, 1-0, after
24 minutes of scoreless play. Ten minutes later, Emerson was
awarded a direct kick from 30 yards out following a Lasell foul.
Casey Shane curled a perfect pass to Ken Nikravesh, who scored from
19 yards out to give the Lions a 2-0 advantage. With just 2:41 left
in the match, Eric Fournier scored the Lasers only goal of the
contest. Price had four saves in the semifinal victory.
Emerson will look to Eric Dabdoub, who leads the conference in
points (32) and goals (14), and Shane, who currently ranks first in
the GNAC in assists (8).
* all statistics through Nov. 2, 2009
