BOSTON, Mass. -- In a Great Northeast Athletic Conference quarterfinal matchup, Simmons soccer battled the Albertus Magnus College Falcons to a 2-0 victory Sunday morning to advance to the semifinal versus the winner of the #1 University of Saint Joseph and the #8 Saint Joseph's College Maine.

The Sharks (11-7, 8-4 GNAC) laid on the pressure early as freshman Greer Gilbert (Falmouth, Mass.) drilled a shot off the crossbar just nine minutes into the first half. Gilbert tested Falcons goalkeeper Christina Dineson again as she beat defender Jessica Radecki in the box but the shot sailed just high.

Albertus Magnus (11-6-2, 7-3-2 GNAC) transitioned into the Sharks defensive end as Danielle Figueroa collected a pass from Shelley Mirmina in the box, but Sharks defender Issy Verrilli (Naugatuck, Conn.) denied Falcons attempt. Sharks senior Justine Beauchamp (Exeter, N.H.) sent a free kick just high of the net at 22:10 but less than a minute later buried a shot past Dineson to lift the Sharks to a 1-0 lead. Keri Acheson (Peabody, Mass.) was credited with the assist.

The Falcons continued to put on the pressure as Figueroa, Kelly Marchitto and Amanda Roke each registered shots but the Sharks back line of Katie McCarthy (Falmouth, Maine), Paige Wilcox (Sandwich, Mass.) and Carolyn Berndt (Trumbull, Conn.) came up big to maintain their one goal lead into halftime.

In the second half, Albertus Magnus took two quick shots by Figueroa and Mirmina but they were unable to convert. Simmons junior Desh Perera (Reading, Mass.) sent a long ball to Alma-Lynn Dupont (Bowling Green, Ohio) in the corner but the shot went just wide. Perera again found herself in the corner and sent a cross through the Falcons box but just missed Acheson and Meredith Riker (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) who were rushing in for the score.

The Sharks took a 2-0 lead at 64:08 when Dupont dribbled the ball to the corner, pulling Dineson out of her net. With a quick decision, Dupont sent a pass to the feet of Acheson who finished the shot into the open Falcons net.

Kristyn Heuslein (Manchester, N.H.) protected the Sharks lead with a header to deny a late attempt by Samantha Farley from just over midfield and Sharks goalkeeper Briana Hayes (Manorville, N.Y.) saved a point blank shot from Marchitto with under three minutes play.

The Falcons outshot the Sharks 23-19 for the game, while the Sharks held a slim advantage in corner kicks, 2-1. Hayes picked up her third shutout of the season with 15 saves, while Dineson recorded nine saves in the loss.

The Sharks return to action in the GNAC Semifinals on Wednesday, October 31st.