STANDISH, ME - Emily Wight '13 (Westbrook, ME) scored with 6:13 remaining to give the Monks (10-5-2, 9-1-2 GNAC) a 2-1 victory over Rivier College (4-11-2, 1-9-2) in a GNAC women's soccer match at Westerlea Way Field on Sunday afternoon. Jessica Needham '11 (East Bridgewater, MA) netted her 10^th goal of the season in the 47^th minute of play and Katye Mayo '10 (Fairfield, ME) made one save to pick up the win in net.

With the victory, Saint Joseph's captured the top seed in the GNAC playoffs and will host a quarterfinal match next Sunday, time and opponent TBD.

Prior to the game, Saint Joseph's recognized six seniors - Mayo, Anna Willis (Gorham, ME), Heidi Stucki (Oakland, ME), Lauren Hagerman (Scarborough, ME), Jennifer Crisp (Dedham, MA) and Brianna Jordan (Scarborough, MA) - for their contributions on and off the pitch as members of the soccer program.

St. Joe's dominated the stat sheet in shots (32-3) and corner kicks (9-1) in the triumph. The Monks have peppered opponents with shots all season long and hold a 316-175 lead in shots to date. The disparity has been especially great lately, as the Royal Blue holds a 144-30 advantage in attempts in the last six games. St. Joe's has topped the 30-shot mark four times this fall and recorded at least 15 more shots than their opponents in six different games.

Both teams struck early in the second half after a scoreless opening stanza. Needham's tally came off a Mikayla Call '11 (Portland, ME/McAuley) dish at the 46:52 mark and Raiders midfielder Sabrina Carvalho '10 (Tyngsboro, MA) knotted the game at one apiece less than four minutes later off a corner. Meghan Hickey '11 (Hampstead, NH) was credited with an assist on the play.

Twenty-three minutes of scoreless play ensued, but the Monks recorded a handful of golden opportunities during the stretch. Jennifer Keaney '13 (Scituate, MA) and Elizabeth Theberge '11 (Danvers, MA) had shots that clanged off the crossbar before Wight netted her first NCAA game-winner, and second career goal, at the 73:47 mark off a Jennifer Crisp crossing pass.

Rivier keeper Brittany Puleo '10 (Hudson, NH) made 11 saves in the losing effort.

Saint Joseph's will close out the regular season campaign with a 3:00 PM match against Southern Maine on Wednesday at Windham High School. The Raiders will complete their season when they host Southern Vermont on Wednesday at 7:00 PM.

Seniors Katye Mayo, Anna Willis, Heidi Stucki, Lauren Hagerman, Jennifer Crisp & Brianna Jordan

Rivier (4-10-2,1-8-2 GNAC) vs. St. Joseph's (Me.) (10-4-2,9-0-2 GNAC)
Date: Oct 25, 2009  Attendance: 150
Weather: sunny

Goals by period       1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
Rivier..............  0  1 -  1
St. Joseph's (Me.)..  0  2 -  2

SCORING SUMMARY:
  1.  46:52 SJMWS Jessica Needham (Mikayla Call) - 4 passed by defender, 17 middle net
  2.  50:18 RIVWS Sabrina Carvalho (Meghan Hickey) - off corner
  3.  73:47 SJMWS Emily Wight (Jennifer Crisp) - cross into box

Shots: Rivier 3, St. Joseph's (Me.) 32
Saves: Rivier 11 (Brittany Puleo 11), St. Joseph's (Me.) 1 (Katye Mayo
1)