Box Score STANDISH, ME - Jack LaFreniere
'13 (Alton, NH) tallied his third game-winner of the year in the
60th minute of play to help Saint Joseph's (13-7-1, 7-2
GNAC) get past #4 Norwich University (10-7-2, 5-3-1 GNAC), 2-1, in
a Great Northeast Athletic Conference Semifinal contest at
Westerlea Way Field on Tuesday afternoon. With the win, the Monks
will host #6 Emerson, who upset #2 Lasell, 2-1 in the other
semifinal matchup this afternoon, in the GNAC Men's Soccer
Championship on Saturday, time TBD.
For the Monks, the victory avenges the loss suffered at the
hands of the Cadets in last season's conference championship.
Norwich tipped St. Joe's, 2-1, in Northfield, VT to earn the
automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament last fall.
St. Joe's keeper Will Pike '10
(Gorham, ME) made three stops in goal and his counterpart, Charles
Maxwell '10 (Rochester, NY) registered six saves for the Cadets in
the losing effort.
After 40 minutes of scoreless play, Jesse
West '12 (Enosburg Falls, VT) put the Monks on the
board with 41st minute tally. A Joseph
Happnie '11 (Rockland, MA) throw-in was headed by
Matt Barlion '13 (Auburn, ME/St.
Dominic) towards the left corner of the box. West
managed to get a piece of the ball and headed the sphere into the
left corner past a sprawling Maxwell.
The deciding goal was the end result of an outstanding
individual effort from LaFreniere. The freshman
forward dribbled the ball nearly 50 yards past three Cadet
defenders and, from about six yards out on the right side, drilled
a shot to the left corner of the net, to doubling the SJC advantage
with 34:14 remaining.
Ten minutes later, the Cadets nearly cut their deficit in half
on a short breakaway attempt by Kyle Buscaglia '13 (Akron, NY). A
crisp crossing pass, left to right, from Danny Hudson '13
(Mattituck, NY) set up a scoring chance, but Buscaglia was denied
by Pike, who left the net to challenge and made a
sliding save 13 yards out.
The 2-0 lead nearly held, but the final minutes of play became a
little less comfortable for the Royal Blue faithful after an
84th minute goal was scored by Norwich defender Zach
Blodgett '11 (Troy, NH). Off an indirect kick into the right side
of the box, Roger Motaze '11 (Cameroon) sent a crossing pass to
Blodgett, who headed the ball to the bottom left corner just beyond
Pike's reach, cutting the SJC lead to 2-1.
Blodgett's tally was the first goal surrendered to a GNAC opponent
by the Monks at Westerlea Way Field this season. St. Joe's has
outscored opponents 12-1 at home this fall.
The late surge by the Cadets proved to be too little, too late,
however, as the Monks managed to hold off the visitors for a
victory that allows the Royal Blue to advance to the GNAC
Championship for the second year in a row.
St. Joe's defeated Emerson, 2-0, in Boston on October
4th. Doug MacCallum
'10 (Hingham, MA) and Paul Robins
'11 (Cornwall, England) scored the SJC goals and Pike registered
eight saves in the triumph.
For the Saint Joseph's Men's Soccer program, the hosting of a
conference championship match will be a first-time occurrence. The
Monks' lone conference title came in 2000 when current Assistant
Coach Jeff Yaeger '04, a starter in goal as a
rookie, helped the Royal Blue defeat Maine-Presque Isle, 2-0, at a
neutral site.
Also of note, the victory over the Cadets sets a new Monks'
single season record for wins. The previous record of 12 was set in
2000 and tied by the 2008 side.
Norwich (10-7-2) vs. St. Joseph's (Me.) (13-7-1)
Date: Nov 03, 2009 Attendance: 215
Weather:
Goals by period 1 2
Tot
-------------------------------
Norwich............. 0 1 - 1
St. Joseph's (Me.).. 1 1 - 2
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 40:29 SJMMS Jesse West (Matt Barlion) - throw in by
11 headed by 23 to the corner of the goal tipped in by 6 L
2. 55:46 SJMMS Jack Lafreniere (unassisted)
3. 83:42 NOR Zach Blodgett (Roger Motaze) - headed in
off free kick to left corner, past diving pike
Shots: Norwich 9, St. Joseph's (Me.) 14
Saves: Norwich 6 (Charles Maxwell 6), St. Joseph's (Me.) 3 (Will
Pike
3)
