BOSTON, Mass. -- Simmons defeated Emmanuel, 2-0, in a critical Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's soccer game played under the lights at Roberto Clemente Field on Wednesday night. Simmons put together a two-goal first half and it was all the Sharks would need to top the host Saints, as they improved to 8-6 on the season and 7-3 in GNAC play. With their victory, the Sharks halted the Saints' four-game win streak and spree of three-straight shutouts, as Emmanuel fell to 9-5-1 overall and 5-3-1 in the league.
With this perennial Colleges of the Fenway (COF) rivalry falling late in the season, the game shaped up as a crucial battle for positioning in the GNAC standings with both teams are vying for home field advantage in the post-season conference tournament. Over the 20-game history between these two teams, which spans 16 years, the Sharks have now beaten the Saints 13 times, including consecutive 2-0 defeats in 2011 and 2012.
Simmons jumped out to an early lead, scoring in just the sixth minute of play. Senior midfielder Ally Ayotte (Litchfield, N.H.) carried the ball down the left side on a breakaway and converted the unassisted marker at 5:55, giving the visitors a quick 1-0 edge.
Late in the half and following what appeared to be a controversial offsides call on the Saints, Simmons quickly drove the length of the field in the opposite direction and put a shot past Emmanuel's senior keeper Jessica D'Ottavio. Ayotte got her foot on a nice pass from junior forward Desh Perera (Reading, Mass.) and picked up her second goal of the game and 5th of the season, with the score coming in 43rd minute of play.
The Sharks held a 2-0 lead at the break, a 9-5 lead in total shots and a 3-2 edge in corner kick opportunities.
The second frame was a scoreless one for both teams, but the Sharks maintained momentum throughout and once again nearly doubled up the Saints in total shots. Simmons would finish the night with an 18-10 advantage in shots (15-2 shots on goal).
D'Ottavio, this week's GNAC Goalkeeper of the Week, finished the night with 13 saves in goal for the Saints. Freshman goalie Amber Verrill (Windham, Maine) made 2 saves for the Sharks and remains undefeated, adding tonight's shutout win to her 4-0 record.
Emmanuel will play at home again on Saturday, October 13th, in a GNAC men's and women's soccer double-header with Anna Maria College. The Saints will square off against the AMcats at noon. Simmons also plays on Saturday, when the Sharks travel to the University of Saint Joseph for a match with the Bluejays at 1:00 PM.