BOSTON, Mass. -- Despite holding visiting Lasell College scoreless in the second half, the Simmons University women's soccer team was defeated by the Lasers, 3-0, today in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action on Daly Field in Brighton, Mass. The Sharks' eight-match unbeaten steak comes to an end as they fall to 7-3-1 and 5-2-1 in league play, while Lasell wins its seventh straight contest to improve to 7-3-0 and 7-0-0.
Senior midfielder Erika Badger (Scituate, Mass.) netted a goal and assisted on another to the Lasers. Lasell dominated possession with a 23-5 shot advantage, while owning a 7-1 margin on corner kicks.
The Lasers' offense wasted no time to get on the board with senior midfielder Sabrina Morais (Arlington, Mass.) picking up a loose ball in the goalmouth and scoring her second marker of the season into the right side of the net just 2:01 into the contest for a 1-0 edge.
Lasell increased its lead on a set piece off a corner kick to make it 2-0 in the 15th minute of play. Badger put the ball into the box from the corner, where sophomore midfielder Paige Meissner (Sandwich, Mass.) headed it to senior midfielder Morgan Pinksten (Pelham, N.H.), who finished with a shot inside the right post for her second score of the year.
Badger gave the Lasers more insurance with 2:50 left in the opening half when she lifted a shot from 30 yards out that sailed over the Simmons keeper and into the top left corner of the net for a 3-0 margin.
The Sharks' defense held their guests scoreless for the remainder of the game, including a second half that saw Lasell put together a 10-3 shot count.
Senior midfielder Cíara Forde (Quincy, Mass.) led the Simmons offense with three shots, including two on net.
First year keeper Angela Sanzari (North Haven, Conn.) made four saves to earn her second shutout of the season for the Lasers, while senior goalie Lauren Williams (Bowdoinham, Maine) turned away nine shots for the Sharks.
Simmons returns to action on Wednesday, October 10 when it travels to New Haven, Conn. to take on GNAC foe Albertus Magnus College at 6:00 p.m., while Lasell hosts Western Connecticut State University at 4:00 p.m. on September 9.