Posted: Oct 16, 2011
NEWTON, MA- During Lasell College's 2011 Family, Friends, and Alumni Weekend and on Senior Day in front of a crowd of over 300 people, the Lasell College men's soccer team topped St. Joseph's College of Maine, 3-2, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action. The win bumps Lasell's record to 8-3-3 with a 4-2-2 conference slate while the Monks slip to 9-5 and 5-3 in GNAC play.
The afternoon began with a ceremony to recognize Lasell's four seniors, Matthew Bruninghaus (Plymouth, MA), Dylan McNulty (Meriden, CT), Jonathan Klippert (Cumberland, ME), and Jacob Allen (Westminster, MA), who are playing in their final season with the Lasers. Immediately following the ceremony, the contest got off the ground with back-to-back goals in a five minute span.
Mike Sanfillippo (Walpole, MA) initiated the action when he put the Monks on top, 1-0, at 3:18. Lasell retaliated less than two minutes later, connecting off a corner kick from 12 yards out. Evan Gaccione (Westerly, RI) leveled the score, taking help from Isaac Soares (Somerset, MA) who launched the ball from the corner.
Leading up to halftime, Lasell's Adam Luciano (Fairfield, CT) set up Peter Clark (Upton, MA) for the go-ahead goal with a no-look pass to the rookie midfielder who shot from short range. The goal was recorded at 41:33 and the 2-1 edge stood through the intermission.
An own goal in the 51st minute proved to be the game-winner after a St. Joseph's defender redirected the ball off a cross by Lasell's Brennen Adams (Southbury, CT). St. Joseph's closed the gap to just one shortly thereafter with an unassisted tally in the 58th minute from Zach Johnson (Westbrook, ME) to bring the score to 3-2.
With the end of the game looming and still in the red, the Monks nearly forced overtime when Jack LaFreniere (Alton, NH) put in the tying goal, at 81:10, which was quickly retracted as an offsides call was made prior to the shot.
Both goalkeepers were tested in the final minutes of the game, but the 3-2 triumph held for Lasell.
Aren Moorman (Somerset, NJ) was the victor, making nine saves in the complete contest for the Lasers. Kenny Grade (Hampton, NH) was hit with the loss, having turned aside seven shot opportunities by Lasell.
Lasell has just three contests left in the regular season, beginning with a GNAC home contest on Wednesday, October 19th against Anna Maria at 3:30 on Taylor Field.