Electric Second Half Sends Women's Soccer over Suffolk 4-0

NEWTON, Mass. (9/24/16) -- The Lasell College women's soccer team scored all four of its goals in the second half en route to a 4-0 win over Suffolk University in Saturday's Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) contest at Taylor Field.

The Lasers improve to 4-2-1 on the season and 2-0-1 in GNAC play with the win, their fourth consecutive and third in shutout fashion. The Rams fall to 4-3-0 overall and 2-1-0 in conference.

Laser senior Megan Cullen (Amesbury, Mass.) opened the scoring with her team-leading third goal this season in the 63rd minute, while sophomores Erika Badger (Scituate, Mass.), Sabrina Morais (Arlington, Mass.) and Morgan Pinksten (Pelham, N.H.) each scored their first goals of the year.

Lasell peppered the opposing goal in the first half, but even a 17-1 shooting advantage was not enough for a goal. Freshman Caitlin Rotonnelli (Meredith, N.H.) had the best chance of the period, hitting the crossbar on her first of two shots just under 17 minutes in.

Suffolk sophomore Kirsten Weiker (Durham, N.H.) made seven saves in the half to keep the contest scoreless, while Lasell's Sarah LaClair (Belchertown, Mass.) was contested with just one shot on goal. Badger led the way with six first-half shots for the hosts. 

The Lasers did not find the back of the net until the 62:32 mark when senior Devon Day (Hartland, Vt.) set Cullen up with a ball in the box. Day's assist was her team-best third this season.

Badger doubled Lasell's advantage with an unassisted goal at the 70:13 mark, finding open space in the top right corner of Weiker's net off a free kick.

Badger's strike started a rapid scoring stretch for the Lasers as they rattled off their final three goals all from the 71st to 78th minutes. Badger factored into the scoring once again in the 73rd as Morais found the back off the net off her corner kick.

Pinksten closed the afternoon's offense at 77:03. Off another corner kick from Badger, senior Erin Smith (Gorham, Maine) found Pinksten for a header and her first collegiate goal.

Lasell more than doubled its shot total in the second half, finishing the game with a 35-2 advantage. The Lasers drew all five corner kicks in the back half of the contest, totaling a 9-1 edge in that category.

Suffolk substituted Weiker for freshman Jordan Pettograsso (Charlotte, N.C.) immediately after Lasell's fourth goal and she stopped both shots in the final 12:57 of action.

LaClair got credit for her fourth victory after facing just one shot in each half, teaming with senior Caitlin Greco (Higganum, Conn.) for the shutout. Greco was not tested in the final 9:53, her first appearance of the season.

The Lasers return to action on Wednesday, September 28 with a 4:00 p.m. GNAC contest against Albertus Magnus. The Rams have just one day off before making the short drive to Cambridge to face Lesley on Monday, September 26 at 8:00 p.m.